Favorite Portraits

My top 5 portraits of Caesar.

1. Tusculum bust. Obviously.

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There are many different busts depicting Caesar. But when it comes to his exact likeness, only the Tusculum bust fits the requirement. It looks very similar to the images of Caesar on coins minted during his life. It's most likely a copy of the original bronze bust that was made during the last months of his life or shortly after his death.

The word "pretty" is unlikely to come to your mind while looking at it, but it is what it is. And let's not forget that he was under immense physical and mental pressure in the last 14 years of his life.

"When we think of the strain on body and mind endured by Caesar during the last fourteen years of his life, it is easy to realize that the handsome young "ladies' man" and politician, the stately senator, orator, jurist, governor, and consul, all of which positions he had filled before leaving Rome, had come back at the end of his nine years of explorations and campaigning in Gaul much aged, and marked by lines of care. Still more must he have been worn by the anxieties of the Civil War which followed, with its four years of incessant struggles under the burning sun of Greece, Egypt, Syria, Carthage, Spain. A thin-cheeked, bony-faced, lean-necked man is shown in the profiles which the engravers who caught sight of him in the few days he remained at the capital, have produced on the coin dies." – Frank J. Scott

There is a cool video where they're coloring it. I think it's pretty easy to imagine that this man was very charming in motion.

2. Marble statue in Palazzo Senatorio.

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I love the first picture! I think the statue bears some resemblance to the Tusculum bust. It is somewhat idealized, but not overtly so. I would say he is supposed to be in his late 40s here.

3. Pantelleria bust.

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This one is of the Tusculum type. If we had to imagine what a younger Caesar looked like, I think this one does a good job. Too bad it's not colored, so it looks somewhat washed out (Caesar had very dark eyes and most likely dark hair). It's easy to imagine how this man would age into one from Tusculum. But I have to say that it lacks the liveliness of the Tusculum bust.

4. Naples bust.

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I hate the tip of his nose. It's not so obvious here, but it's very annoying in color. As my friend tells me, the bust was heavily restored. It probably has a good ancient base, but it had lots of work done by Renaissance sculptors who didn't care much for authenticity. It was probably of the Tusculum type, and you can still see some of it.

5. Florence bust.

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This one is of the Vatican type. To be honest, I don't really like the Vatican bust. It's a beautiful piece of work, but it's too idealized, imo. But I like this one.