Julius Caesar

A bust of Julius Caesar by the master Florentine sculptor Andrea di Pietro Marco Ferrucci, from 1512 to 1514. It was years later when Augustus was firmly entrenched as Emperor the symbolism on the silver cuirass would evolve to include the ceremonial returning of the Eagles lost by Crassus to the Parthians. On his left shoulder the Padulamentum is gathered and secured at the left side as was the style. This is undoubtedly one of the finest representations of Caesar, carved towards the end of the Renaissance era.

He wears the usual trimmings of an Ancient Roman military statesman: muscled cuirass with what would become standard "Julio-Claudian Propaganda" imagery, the Gorgon Medusa and Roman Aquila (eagle) perched on laurel wreaths, right upper arm pteruges (cloth or leather) coloured straps ending in tassles were worn on an undergarment torso piece called a subarmalis.

Caesar chose to wear tunics and garments that sat at or just above the knee, when on campaign, as he was famously proud of his legs, particularly his calf muscles. Anyway, this masterpiece of early 16th Century Florentine marble sculpture can be viewed in the Metropolitan Musueum of Art, NY, USA.