Bronze Youth with Spear

This Hellenistic bronze (2nd c. BC), found in Rome, shows a young man in heroic nudity, the visual language of leaders and demigods. His relaxed contrapposto, short beard, and athletic build recall works by Lysippos, sculptor of Alexander the Great. The spear (a modern replacement) completes the image of poised authority. Likely a prince or elite figure admired in Rome, the statue exemplified Greek idealism to Roman elite.