Portrait of Alexander the Great,

3rd century BCE

Though smaller than life-size, this portrait of Alexander the Great nonetheless conveys the essence of the Macedonian conqueror’s outsized presence, with lionlike hair and a dynamic expression on his youthful, upturned face. Already in antiquity, Alexander the Great’s portraits were known for their vividness. As a group, they mark the beginning of a trend toward a type of portraiture that aims to capture the distinctive qualities of an individual. Ancient sculptures were originally painted, and this example preserves some traces of the many colors that once adorned its surface. While these pigments often do not survive, here we can still see traces of red on Alexander’s lips and eyes. A significant amount of gold leaf is also preserved in Alexander’s hair and around his left eye, suggesting that this bust was also gilded to convey his power and almost-divine charisma.