PORTRAIT OF VITELLIUS (EMPEROR IN 69 A.D.) Roman... Lot 4

PORTRAIT OF VITELLIUS (EMPEROR IN 69 A.D.) Roman art, 1st century White marble; broken nose, re-filling of the lower right cheek Height: 26 cm Vitellius is depicted with his head tilted slightly backwards and turned to the left. The typical physiognomy of this great political figure reveals his bonomy and his penchant for the pleasures of life. The oval face is marked by a double chin and fat cheeks. The arch of the eyebrows is in relief, in contrast with the deep-set orbital cavities. The almond-shaped eyes are framed by hemmed eyelids. The inner corner of the eye and the pupils are worked with a drill bit. The short forehead is topped by curly hair, the volume of which is concentrated on the front and central part of the head and worked with a drill bit. The ears are open. Vitellus, governor of Syria under Tiberius, spent a carefree youth in Capri. He attracted the friendship of the powerful of the time, and was notably appointed commander of the Germanic Legions by Galba. Rather idle, lover of good food and drink, Tacitus (Histories II, 31) will say of him: "Vitellius ventre et gula sibi inhonestus", (Vitellius who let himself be dishonored by his belly and his gullet). However, his sense of diplomacy and demagogy, allows him to reach the highest functions, first in January 69, as emperor of the armies of Germania, and then in Rome, after having defeated Otto on April 14 of the same year. His cruelty and the exactions of his army made him very unpopular, thus provoking many disorders. He was stoned to death by the mob on December 22, 69, and the Empire fell to the general Vespasian, who was then besieging Jerusalem and was to found the second imperial dynasty, the Flavians. A ROMAN MARBLE PORTRAIT OF VITELLIUS (EMPEROR IN 69 A.D.) 1st century A.D. White marble 10 in. High Vitellius is shown with his head bent slightly back and turned to the left. The typical physiognomy of this great political figure reveals his inclination for the pleasures of life. The oval face is marked by a double chin and fat cheeks. The brow bone is in relief, in contrast with the very deep carved orbital cavities. The almond-shaped eyes are framed by heavy lids. The inner corner of the eye as well as the pupils are worked with a trephine. The short forehead is topped with curly hair, the volume of which is concentrated on the front and central part of the head and worked with a trephine. The ears are clear. Vitellus, governor of Syria under Tiberius, spent a carefree youth in Capri. He knew how to attract the friendship of the powerful of the time, and was notably appointed commander of the Legions of Germania by Galba. Rather idle, lover of good food and drink, Tacitus (Histories II, 31) will say of him: "Vitellius ventre et gula sibi inhonestus" (Vitellius who allowed himself to be dishonored by his belly and his throat). However, his sense of diplomacy and demagogy allowed him to reach the highest positions, initially in January 69, as emperor of the armies of Germania, and subsequently in Rome, after having defeated Otho on the 14th of April of the same year. His cruelty and the abuses of his army made him very unpopular, thus causing many disturbances. He died stoned by the crowd on December 22, 69, and the Empire fell to General Vespasian, who then besieged Jerusalem and was to found the second imperial dynasty, that of the Flavians.