Not currently on display at the V&A

Publius Valerius Publicola

Bust
ca. 1780-1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Rome (made)

Although the base, which is neo-classical in style, is inscribed with the apparent name of the subject, the bust is not related to the presumed portraits of Publicola, but imitated.

The head appears to be imitated from a late imperial bust of the type of the so-called Lucius Verus in Munich. The Munich bust comes from the Villa Albani, the treatment of the hair and body and the angle of the head are closely similar.

Object details

Categories
Ph_survey
Sculpture
Portraits
Object type
Bust
TitlePublius Valerius Publicola (generic title)
Materials and techniques
White marble
White Marble
Brief description
Bust, marble, 'Publius Valerius Publicola' [imitation of], Rome, 1780-1800
Physical description
White marble bust of Publius Valerius Publicola. An imaginary portrait in the style of the antique of a young man with thick curling hair and bare breasts and shoulders. Inscribed around the circular base: 'PUB VAL PUBLICOLA SABINUS'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 81.3cm
Object history
Acquired in Rome from the collection of Monsignor Nardi (9l. 11s. 6d.)
Historical context
Although the base, which is neo-classical in style, is inscribed with the apparent name of the subject, the bust is not related to the presumed portraits of Publicola, but imitated.

The head appears to be imitated from a late imperial bust of the type of the so-called Lucius Verus in Munich. The Munich bust comes from the Villa Albani, the treatment of the hair and body and the angle of the head are closely similar.
Subjects depicted
Bust
Publius Valerius Publicola
Summary
Although the base, which is neo-classical in style, is inscribed with the apparent name of the subject, the bust is not related to the presumed portraits of Publicola, but imitated.

The head appears to be imitated from a late imperial bust of the type of the so-called Lucius Verus in Munich. The Munich bust comes from the Villa Albani, the treatment of the hair and body and the angle of the head are closely similar.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1861 In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 3
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 105
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, pp. 698, 699
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
7531-1861

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Record createdJune 29, 2000
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O41002/publius-valerius-publicola-bust-unknown/
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