Roundel of a Portrait Bust | Harvard Art Museums

Identification and Creation

Object Number: 1998.317
Title: Roundel of a Portrait Bust
Classification: Textile Arts
Work Type: textile
Date: 5th-6th century
Places: Creation Place: Ancient & Byzantine World, Africa, Egypt (Ancient)
Period: Byzantine period, Early
Culture: Byzantine
Persistent Link: https://hvrd.art/o/168927

Physical Descriptions

Medium: Wool
Technique: Woven
Dimensions: 33.5 cm (13 3/16 in.)

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line: Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, Gift of Lois Orswell
Accession Year: 1998
Object Number: 1998.317
Division: Asian and Mediterranean Art
Contact: am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu
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Descriptions

Description: Tapestry woven roundel with a male bust portrait at its center. The simple male figure is nude, with a small beard and hair tied up with a red band. This may be a portrait of a member of Dionysus’ thiasos. The medallion holding this figure is buff with a dark green border. This is surrounded by a yellow ring with dark green, evenly spaced dots outlined in buff. Around this space runs a purple border. Another border is created by a dark blue scroll with large dots against a buff background. A dark blue band completes the roundel.

Publication History

Marjorie B. Cohn and Sarah Kianovsky, Lois Orswell, David Smith, and Modern Art, exh. cat., Harvard University Art Museums (Cambridge, MA, 2002), cat. no. 315, p. 364

Verification Level

This record has been reviewed by the curatorial staff but may be incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. For more information please contact the Division of Asian and Mediterranean Art at am_asianmediterranean@harvard.edu