The
Romans already knew, how to create eternal remembrance,
first for emperors and generals, then poets and scholars. The bronze or stone
busts from that time still bear witness to those days and a very popular form
of art: the portrait. Not only were portraits used to immortalize ancestors
and dignitaries, but also to illustrate ideals.
In ancient Rome it was fashionable to portray oneself and one’s family.
Many very expressive busts from that time are of ordinary people.
With the
end of the Roman Empire the art of portrayal vanished and only reappeared during
the Renaissance, at the beginning of the 15th century with, for example, the
busts of Donatello. Also, in the Baroque era, the art of portrayal was much
favoured; one exponent being the Roman sculptor and architect Gianlorenzo Bernini.
During succeeding centuries portrayal remained a well recognized sector of
fine arts and particularly in the 19th/20th century, with the work of August
Rodin being an artistic highlight.
The portraits by
I. Marina Buening: a photo gallery
Those who want to be portrayed
Short history of the art of portraying