Bust of a Young Boy

Portrait busts, inspired by ancient Roman examples, were popular in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries. Three busts (one in Venice, in Berlin, and in New York) of young boys of noble lineage by Gian Cristoforo Romano are among the few examples of portraits rather than simple generic images of children in Renaissance sculpture.

The bust of a boy about six years old in Berlin has suffered in terms of condition. It seems to have been placed outdoors, exposed to the weather, and has been subsequently repatinated in modern times. The nose has been entirely remade, altering the boy’s appearance and giving him a more adult aspect. Similarly to the Venice bust, the pendant ornament is now lost.