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THE BUST OF COMMODUS

THE BUST OF COMMODUS. WHO WAS COMMODUS…?. Commodus was the son of Marcus Aurelius. a brutal emperor for 12 years (180 AD – 192 AD) . he was assassinated (strangled) at the age of 31. an interesting character of questionable sanity. Wheeler calls him a “sadistic pervert”.

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THE BUST OF COMMODUS

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  1. THE BUST OF COMMODUS

  2. WHO WAS COMMODUS…? • Commodus was the son of Marcus Aurelius. • a brutal emperor for 12 years (180 AD – 192 AD) . • he was assassinated (strangled) at the age of 31. • an interesting character of questionable sanity. • Wheeler calls him a “sadistic pervert”. • he was a decadent, self-indulgent, deranged megalomaniac. • had a fondness for gladiatorial games often taking part in the animal hunts (dressed as Hercules). • his blatant self-heroization here in this piece is quite extraordinary.

  3. THE PIECE IN A NUTSHELL • He wears a lion skin. • Commodus is shown with a beard and moustache. • He holds a knotted club in his right hand. • In his left hand he holds three apples. • Two cornucopiae full of fruit hold up the bust. • Between the cornucopiae is an Amazon shield which is decorated with Medusa’s head. • There is a sphere with a band across the middle of it with three Zodiac signs. It is it also has four rosettes. • An Amazonian warrior kneels on either side of a sphere.

  4. Commodus saw himself asa bit of a Hercules… • He was often portrayed on coins and in inscriptions as the hero. Hercules’ worship was popular in Rome. The comparison with Hercules in this bust is obvious: • The club was a weapon of choice for the hero. • The apples allude to Hercules’ immortality which Commodus regarded as his due after subduing the enemies of Rome. • The lion skin represents power and strength. • The Amazon warrior relates to the fact that Commodus had also defeated the Sarmatians who lived in the same are as the Amazonians had.

  5. Hercules’ labours represented here are… • First labour • The killing of the Nemean lion from whose (impenetrable) skin he made a cloak.

  6. Ninth labour • Obtaining the girdle of the Amazon queen Hippolyta & the subsequent defeat of the Amazons.

  7. Eleventh labour • The theft of the golden apples from a tree at the world’s end, guarded by a dragon (Ladon) which he slew.

  8. BUT WAIT…WHAT ABOUT THE FEATURES OF THE SET PIECE

  9. Hair - deeply drilled beard and hair creates shadows - rhythmical waves in hair, - full beard gives sense of imperial majesty, - contrast between deeply modelled hair and smooth texture of face. • Eyes - are not painted but have rings incised into the iris, - heavy upper eye lids droop over the iris, - eyes are upturned and gaze to one side (our left). • Mouth - short but full lower lip with a moustache above the lip, - the mouth is turned down.

  10. WHAT STYLE IS THIS IN? WHAT STYLE IS THIS IN? Antonine Baroque style • smooth highly polished skin which gives a youthful appearance, • deeply drilled luxurious hair, • contrasts of light & dark areas, powerful musculature & polished head. • Commodus was the last of the Antonine's.

  11. SO WHAT IS COMMODUS TRYING TO SAY ? • The larger than life bust conveys the message that Commodus is: • the saviour of mankind, • worthy of portrayal as Hercules, • a heroic/divine figure, • a doer of great deeds.

  12. So there you are. But the questions remains: was he mad as a hatter or just a looney…?

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