Man Dressed in a Roman Toga, Called “The Orator”

ca. 100 CE-150 CE

This impressive full-length portrait belongs to that rare group of well-preserved private Roman portraits called togatus owing to their garment, the toga as in Latin, the central subject of the statue theme because it points to the social and political status of the figure depicted. It is certainly a man of high rank, or possessing a great fortune, who had himself depicted in marble in a likeness of such quality, obviously produced by a workshop of the highest reputation that also probably executed portraits of rulers. The quality of the toga, carved in ample folds and displayed as a very visible attribute, highlights the importance of a figure who has evidently had a successful cursus honorum, a distinguished public career.

Artwork Details