Emperor bust. Roman culture. 2nd-4th Century A.D. Bronze. Provenance: Private collection, Joanny Benoît Peytel (1844 - 1924), Paris - Galerie Ghezelbash, Paris. Good state of preservation. Publications: Vintage photograph by photographer Druet. Measurements: 9,8 cm. height: 5 x 5,5 x 5,5 cm. base. Bronze sculpture representing the bust of a Roman emperor, wearing a helmet and with a pectoral insinuating on his chest, which gives him the image of military authority. The plump face has been represented with naturalistic eagerness. According to the date and the rounded features of the countenance, it could be representing Commodus (180-192 A.D.), an emperor with a tendency, according to biographers, to portray himself as a god or hero, in this case as the god Mars. Also Heliogabalus (218-222 A.D.) and Maximinus the Thracian (235-238 A.D.) were often portrayed with a full face and somewhat androgynous appearance. It is worth mentioning that the portrait was one of the most original and characteristic manifestations of Roman art. The origin of the Roman portrait appears to be linked more to a concept than to a plastic expression, and reflects like no other artistic genre the vital philosophy of that people.