Roman bust of a philosopher

The Roman emperor Hadrian (r. A.D. 117–38), who embraced Greek intellectual pursuits, made beards popular among Romans who had previously been clean-shaven. The beard quickly became a fashionable style as well as a sign of one’s interest in classical learning, leading elite Roman men to have themselves portrayed in the guise of philosophers. This bust of an unidentified bearded man resembles portraits of the Greek philosopher Plato. The introspective eyes, with their heavy lids and drilled pupils, also contribute to the sitter’s intellectual demeanour. – (OF.069)