Make a Bust Portrait

K–12 Resource: Artmaking

Use an ancient sculpture of Roman Emperor Commodus as inspiration for a portrait you create

Title

Bust of Emperor Commodus

Artist/Maker

Unknown maker, Roman

Date

A.D. 180–185

Medium

Marble

Dimensions

Object: 69.9 × 61 × 22.8 cm, 92.9874 kg (27 1/2 × 24 × 9 in., 205 lb.) Object (Including Socle): 92.5 cm (36 7/16 in.) Other (Socle (Which May Not Be Original To The Bust)): 22.5 cm (8 7/8 in.)

Place

Rome, Italy

Object Type

Sculpture

Credit Line

The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 92.SA.48

About

Learning Objectives

In this activity, you will:

  • Create a bust portrait of a real or imaginary person.
  • Use features and attributes to portray a person.
  • Reflect on the creative process of making a bust portrait.

Time

  • Multiple Parts

Materials Needed

  • Colored pencils
  • Markers
  • Paper

Assignment

Identify Features and Attributes in This Bust

A bust portrait is a sculpture or drawing that shows a person from the shoulders up. Artists have made bust portraits for thousands of years to honor, remember, or capture important people.

Look at the details of the Bust of Emperor Commodus from different angles using the images below. Pay attention to the features and attributes you notice.

  • A feature is a part of a person’s face or head—things like their eyes, nose, mouth, ears, or the shape of their jawline. Notice how the sculptor carefully carved Emperor Commodus’s curly hair, wide eyes, and full beard.

  • An attribute is an object or symbol that tells us something about who a person is or what they represent. Think of attributes as clues that tell a story about your subject. In this sculpture, Emperor Commodus wears a military cloak that shows his leadership, and the cloak is fastened with a brooch that shows his rank as commander in chief.

  • Back - Bust of Commodus

    Back. Unknown maker, Roman, Bust of Emperor Commodus, 180–185 CE, Marble, Object: 69.9 × 61 × 22.8 cm, 92.9874 kg (27 1/2 × 24 × 9 in., 205 lb.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 92.SA.48

  • Left - Bust of Commodus

    Left. Unknown maker, Roman, Bust of Emperor Commodus, 180–185 CE, Marble, Object: 69.9 × 61 × 22.8 cm, 92.9874 kg (27 1/2 × 24 × 9 in., 205 lb.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 92.SA.48

  • Right - Bust of Commodus

    Right. Unknown maker, Roman, Bust of Emperor Commodus, 180–185 CE, Marble, Object: 69.9 × 61 × 22.8 cm, 92.9874 kg (27 1/2 × 24 × 9 in., 205 lb.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 92.SA.48

  • Detail Back - Bust of Commodus

    Detail back. Unknown maker, Roman, Bust of Emperor Commodus, 180–185 CE, Marble, Object: 69.9 × 61 × 22.8 cm, 92.9874 kg (27 1/2 × 24 × 9 in., 205 lb.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 92.SA.48

  • Detail Front - Bust of Commodus

    Detail front. Unknown maker, Roman, Bust of Emperor Commodus, 180–185 CE, Marble, Object: 69.9 × 61 × 22.8 cm, 92.9874 kg (27 1/2 × 24 × 9 in., 205 lb.), The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, 92.SA.48

Choose Your Subject

Choose a person important to you to feature in your bust portrait. They might be someone you know, someone famous you admire, or an imaginary person from a work of fiction. Brainstorm why they are important and what you want to communicate about them.

Write a list of features and attributes of that person.

Plan Your Project

Choose a few features and attributes from your list, and decide which ones you’ll include in your portrait. For example, what kind of facial expression might the person have? Are they wearing any jewelry? Do they have any unique features or attributes to include?

Draw Your Subject

Draw a pedestal on a large piece of paper. For ideas, look at the pedestal on the Bust of Emperor Commodus. Use markers or colored pencils to add at least three features and attributes of the person.

Reflect on Your Project

Reflect on your creative process. Write answers to the following questions.

  • Why did you choose this person for your portrait?
  • What attributes or features did you include and why?
  • What part of making the bust portrait did you enjoy the most? Why?

Glossary

Attribute

A special object or symbol that helps you recognize a person or god in art (like Zeus holding a lightning bolt).

Bust

A sculpture that shows only a person’s head, neck, and shoulders.

Feature

A part of a person’s face or appearance, such as their eyes, nose, mouth, hair, or smile.

Related Materials

  1. Video: Bust of Emperor Commodus

    Watch a Video

    Learn about a 16-year-old Roman Emperor who was considered a bad ruler

  2. Explore Bust of Emperor Commodus

    Close Looking

    Look closely at a portrait of a Roman emperor to to see how rulers used their images to show power and influence others

  3. Research Reporter: What is Propaganda?

    Researching

    Study an ancient sculpture to learn how art can be used to influence people, both in the past and today

Related Standards

Credits and Licensing

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