Head of Nero Caesar Augustus c. 1638

Curator: This is Peter Paul Rubens' "Head of Nero Caesar Augustus," currently held at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: The cross-hatching! Immediately, I notice the controlled chaos of those lines, building form and shadow so economically. Curator: Rubens made this drawing to capture a likeness of a Roman ruler, yet it conveys so much more. Nero carries the heavy weight of his power. It is interesting to observe how Rubens is interpreting the image for his time. Editor: I agree, the weight comes through in those downward-turned features. Also, the curls! Each is meticulously rendered, but together they create this vibrating energy, a contained intensity. It’s less about Nero himself, and more about the artist's technical virtuosity. Curator: And perhaps, Nero's character. Consider the historical narratives—the image of a tyrant. Symbols of power can shift meaning drastically over time. Editor: An interesting thought. The drawing becomes its own statement about artifice, then. Curator: Precisely. I see echoes of authority and artistry intertwined. Editor: And I appreciate how Rubens uses line to articulate power, both controlled and chaotic.