The Togatus Barberini is a first-century AD marble sculpture that can be seen at Centrale Montemartini in Rome. This Roman statue shows a patrician figure wearing a toga and holding two ancestral busts. The work was created during the reign of Emperor Augustus, which was an era in which many impressive artworks were produced.
What makes this sculpture unique is the emphasis that Romans placed on preserving family genealogy through stone depictions of their ancestors. It was only patricians who were allowed to have ancestor busts; thus, these objects became coveted status symbols. The patrician in the sculpture carries his ancestors’ featureless blocks as commissions for future carvings; thereby respecting what’s significant for the Roman people.
The formal unity of this piece comes from the toga worn by both the patrician and his ancestors, creating continuity between them. The artwork speaks volumes about how preserving family ties and bloodlines played an integral role in ancient Rome’s society. Today, visitors can observe this preserved piece alongside countless other stunning works throughout Rome’s various galleries and museums.
