Head of a young man. Rome, 2nd–3rd centuries AD.

Head of a young man. Rome, 2nd–3rd centuries AD.
Marble.
The fragment is in good condition.
Measurements: 8 cm high.

Small Roman marble head depicting a young man with soft features and a restrained expression. The face features almond-shaped eyes, a straight nose, a small mouth, and short hair rendered through delicate incisions, within a style characteristic of Roman sculpture from the Imperial period.

The piece is part of the broad tradition of Roman portraiture, a fundamental genre in the visual culture of Rome. Unlike Greek idealism, Roman portraiture placed great importance on the representation of identity, memory, and social status, although during the Imperial period these features were combined with more idealized and classicist models. In this case, the subject’s youth, the serenity of the expression, and the softness of the modeling suggest an image closer to idealization than to a strictly individualized portrait.

During the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD, Roman portraiture developed a wide variety of formal approaches, ranging from highly realistic images to figures of a more abstract and spiritualized nature. This head preserves that tension between individual presence and ideal model: the features are clearly defined, but treated with a sobriety that seeks dignity and permanence rather than anecdotal description.