During the Roman Republic, patricians were proud of their lineage and keep imagines of their ancestors in their homes. Imagines are likenesses, but often in the medium of a bust rather than a portrait. These likenesses are usually very literal. They were one of several ways that the patrician class celebrated their elevated status. It distinguished them from the lower classes, especially slaves and former slaves, whose ancestors were said to be property rather than people.
Imagines are almost exclusively men of advanced age, the few women that there were would also have been older. This is because the elders held the power in the state. In addition, the patricians did not want idealized portraits, they wanted an accurate reflection of their individual face. This desire for an accurate record is directly related to the practice of keeping these sculptures in the family home as a record of ancestry. These imagines were “veristic,” a word that refers to their superrealistic qualities
The sculpture depicted above was found near Otricoli, Italy and is estimated to have been from between 75 and 50 B.C. It is made from marble and is approximately a 1′ 2″ high. The truthful nature of these family portraits is accurately reflected in the face of the patrician above; every wrinkle is painstakingly recorded. In addition, it is interesting to note that this accuracy also reveals something about his character: the man looks serious, experienced and determined, all characteristics that were admired during this particular period of Roman history.
History of Western Art & Music 