Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.), after a bust in the Vatican Museums 1856

Curator: The bust, located here at the Harvard Art Museums, is titled "Marcus Tullius Cicero (106-43 B.C.)", and it was crafted by Benjamin Paul Akers after a bust in the Vatican Museums. Editor: He looks intense, doesn't he? The sharp angle of his gaze and the stark contrast create such a commanding presence. I wonder what was he thinking. Curator: Well, Cicero lived through tumultuous times in the late Roman Republic, and was a renowned statesman and orator. Akers, by referencing the Vatican bust, is perhaps attempting to tie into that legacy of power. Editor: Absolutely. But what does it signify today? A white, male figure, celebrated for rhetoric… How do we re-contextualize this image for contemporary audiences navigating issues of representation and power? Curator: These are crucial questions. Exhibiting this work invites us to critically examine the narratives we inherit and the ways in which historical figures continue to shape our present. Editor: Right, art acts as a catalyst, it's definitely provoked new thoughts for me about how we engage with such images. Curator: It's been a fascinating discussion, indeed.