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In 1562 and 1565 Philip II commissioned the Bonanome brothers to execute two series of busts of the “Twelve Emperors” of whom Suetonius wrote biographies. The monarch was not satisfied with the busts and had them sent to the gardens of the Casa de Campo in Madrid in 1571. This monumental head of Nero reproduces with slight variations the last portrait of the notorious emperor (54-68 AD).
This impressive portrait of Augustus (27 BC to 14 AD) is by the Bonanome brothers, who were commissioned by Philip II in 1562 and 1565 to execute two series of busts of the first twelve Roman emperors, based on their biographies by Suetonius (c. 97-126 AD). This bust is from the small-format series, of which three survive. Philip II was dissatisfied with them and had them sent to the gardens of th
In 1562 and 1565 Philip II commissioned the Bonanome brothers to execute two series of busts of the twelve Roman emperors whose lives were recounted by Suetonius. In 1571 Philip had the busts sent to the gardens of the Casa de Campo in Madrid. The head of Caesar reflects the final portrait of him, dating from 44 AD (Turin, Museo Archeologico). The coloured marble bust is now missing.
This bust of Vitellius is from the monumental series of the “Twelve Emperors” sent by Philip II to the gardens of the Casa de Campo in Madrid in 1571. The features are a more pronounced version of those of the so-called “Pseudo-Vitellius” in the Grimani collection, Venice. They present a highly expressive image of this unfortunate emperor, who reigned for less than a year.
This portrait head of Caligula (37 to 41 AD) is set into a tuff bust laminated with pieces of coloured marble to imitate a general’s armour and cloak, using a new technique of the time. It is one from the series of small-format busts of the Twelve Emperors commissioned by Philip II. White marble (head) and coloured marbles and tuff (bust)
