Roman sculpture gained momentum after the conquest of Greece circa 146 BC although many of the famous Roman Statues that we know today were actually inspired by the Greeks. In fact, many wealthy Romans commissioned copies of Greek Statues to decorate their villas and gardens. The Romans, however, did develop their own sense of style over time. Unlike Greek sculpture which portrayed people in their ideal form, Roman statues aimed for a more realistic view.

Consequently, the Romans most significant contribution to the art of sculpture was realistic portraiture, in which they recorded even the homeliest facial details. This style of realistic sculpture probably originated in the terra-cotta busts of ancestors which were displayed at the funerals of Roman aristocrats.

For the most part, Roman statues were used to decorate public and private buildings and much of this sculpture was used to honor the ruler, celebrate victories, or to promote the state and its governance. Starting with Caesar Augustus, the first Roman Emperor, sculptors created idealized statues of the imperial family. Statue.com is proud to offer an extensive line of Roman busts in our Roman and Greek Bust Gallery.

It is also very interesting to note that while Roman statues survive in great numbers, few names of Roman sculptors were recorded. For the most part, Roman statues were typically created to serve the needs of their patrons rather than to express the artistic attitudes of their sculptors.

Although Roman statues can be found in many of our galleries, you will find the largest selection in our Classical Sculptures Gallery and Life-Size Sculptures Gallery.

You can enter the Greek and Roman Collection by clicking below.