Portrait of Demosthenes
Type:
Sculpture
Year:
Roman copy of an original by Polyeuktos (first half of the 3rd century B.C.)
Material and technique:
Pentelic marble
Origin:
Purchased in Rome
Inventory:
Inv. MB 140
This portrait of the famous Greek orator derives from an original created by Polyeuktos around 280 B.C. for the Agora in Athens. That statue, known through a large number of copies made in Roman times, showed Demosthenes on his feet, wrapped in flowing drapery that left his right shoulder bare. His eyes looked downward and his hands were clasped together in front of his body, in an attitude of intense concentration.
Masterpieces of the hall
The hall
These two little rooms display fine copies of Greek sculptures from the early Hellenistic period, together with a number of archaic works.
