CC0 · no rights reserved
The Infant Nero
From the collection of Smithsonian American Art Museum. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This portrait was commissioned as a “copy of the infant Nero” by an Englishman named C. Noel Welman. In contrast to many of his ideal sculptures, Hiram Powers modeled this piece to resemble the realistic style of Roman portraiture. Welman asked for a bust with no drapery, but evidently Powers ignored this request and the young child is shown with a Greek himation, or cloak, covering his shoulders.
Smithsonian American Art Museum’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineThe Infant Nero. modeled 1843. Hiram Powers, born Woodstock, VT 1805-died Florence, Italy 1873. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase in memory of Ralph Cross Johnson. CC0.
