The portraiture of Caracalla and Geta : form, context, function
In this dissertation, I investigate the representation of the emperor's image in Rome and the provinces of the Roman Empire. This study examines portraits in the round and inscribed bases of emperors Caracalla (AD 196-217) and Geta (AD 198-211) and asks how and why patrons chose to set up honorific statuary monuments and display imperial images. I explore the process of conception, mediation, and reception of the emperor's authorised likeness, addressing a set of fundamental questions: Who commissioned copies of imperial portraits and for what occasion? How did sculptors acquire and copy portrait types? Where were imperial portraits displayed and to which extent context determined their appearance in terms of scale, material, format, and costume types? The archaeological a.'1d epigraphic evidence is interpreted from the perspective of commissioners, executors, and intended viewers, in order to define the ancient perception of the emperor's persona. In the process, I bring to attention instances in which imperial images agreed with, or diverted from, the self-image that emperors promoted through the state media. Finally, I relate Caracalla's sculpted portraiture to the broader context of art and epigraphy and
Petruccioli, Guido
The portraiture of Caracalla and Geta : form, context, function. In this dissertation, I investigate the representation of the emperor's image in Rome and the provinces of the Roman Empire. This study examines portraits in the round and inscribed bases of emperors Caracalla (AD 196-217) and Geta (AD 198-211) and asks how and why patrons chose to set up honorific statuary monuments and display imperial images. I explore the process of conception, mediation, and reception of the emperor's authorised likeness, addressing a set of fundamental questions: Who commissioned copies of imperial portraits and for what occasion? How did sculptors acquire and copy portrait types? Where were imperial portraits displayed and to which extent context determined their appearance in terms of scale, material, format, and costume types? The archaeological a.'1d epigraphic evidence is interpreted from the perspective of commissioners, executors, and intended viewers, in order to define the ancient perception of the emperor's persona. In the process, I bring to attention instances in which imperial images agreed with, or diverted from, the self-image that emperors promoted through the state media. Finally, I relate Caracalla's sculpted portraiture to the broader context of art and epigraphy and
portraiture caracalla form context function investigate representation emperor image rome province roman_empire study examine portrait round inscribe base emperor caracalla ask patron choose set honorific statuary monument display imperial image explore process conception mediation reception emperor authorise likeness address set fundamental_question commission copy imperial portrait occasion sculptor acquire copy portrait type imperial portrait display extent context determine appearance term scale material format costume type archaeological_epigraphic evidence interpret perspective commissioner intend viewer order define ancient perception emperor persona process bring attention instance imperial image agree divert self_image emperor promote state medium finally relate caracalla portraiture broad_context art epigraphy