Composition Features of Emperor Portraits on Coins of the Roman Empire

Abstract

The aim of the article is to identify the compositional features of numismatic portraits of emperors of the Roman Empire. Research methodology. The method of theoretical analysis, typological method, method of art historical analysis, iconographic method, comparative method, historical and cultural method were applied. Scientific novelty. The compositional features of portraits of emperors on coins of the Roman Empire were considered; based on the art historical analysis of numismatic portraits of Roman emperors of the 1st–3rd centuries AD from the collection of Victor A. Adda, stored in the Israel Museum, the features of the size and shape of the image on the coin, its location relative to the text, and visual differences were identified. Conclusions. The study revealed the variability of numismatic images of Roman emperors: from the second half of the 1st century AD and later, rulers are depicted in various angles (right or left profile personifies the past or future), forms of headdresses (laurel wreaths, radiant crowns) and clothing (naked bust, military paludamentum, cuirass or their combinations), with various attributes; the main part of numismatic portraits of emperors of the Roman Empire is made up of images of a male head, less often – a bust, in some cases a whole figure; individual images are created taking into account the position of the viewer. Recognition of a numismatic portrait is easily achieved due to its similarity to portrait busts of emperors. Since coins and portrait busts were the main means of formulating and preserving the image of the emperor, their similarity strengthened the iconic and authorised image of his face. The Roman artists responsible for minting coins used an iconographic concept different from the Hellenistic one – numismatic portraits were never draped (this graphic solution had a cultural basis). The hyper-realistic images on the coins testify to the development of the naturalistic style of republican portrait painting.