Where is the Capitoline Brutus located today?
The Capitoline Brutus remains on display in the Hall of the Triumphs at Rome's Capitoline Museums. The sculpture returned to the Palazzo dei Conservatori in 1816 and has stayed there since that date.
Questions about Capitoline Brutus
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was the Capitoline Brutus first drawn by an artist?
Dutch artist Maarten van Heemskerck made the first drawing of the bust between the 2nd of May 1532 and the 2nd of May 1536. Written descriptions of the object appeared later during the year 1549.
Who bequeathed the Capitoline Brutus to Rome in 1564?
Cardinal Rodolfo Pio da Carpi donated the artifact to the city of Rome in the year 1564 without any record of its prior history. This transfer occurred before Pope Pius VI surrendered the piece to France in 1797.
What dates do scholars assign to the creation of the Capitoline Brutus?
Some experts date the work to the late 4th or early 3rd centuries BC based on style and material composition. Other scholars argue it may be as late as the 2nd century BC or even the early 1st century BC when vogue existed for creating lively imaginary portraits.
Why does the Capitoline Brutus have glass-inlaid bone eyes?
The head is cast from bronze and features glass-inlaid bone eyes that catch the light differently than solid metal would. This combination of materials reflects an archaizing style popular in later centuries rather than the time it claims to represent.