The Marble Portrait of Emperor Caracalla from the Pálffy Collection in Bratislava - Reconsidered.

The primary aim of this study is to reconsider an official portrait of the Roman emperor Caracalla (198/212-217), originating from the collection of Count János Pálffy, housed in the SNM - Archaeological Museum in Bratislava, complemented by a summary of the pigment analysis and of the provenance analyses of the marble used. Although the earlier literature refers to Luna marble (Carrara, Italy), recent results, derived from modern scientific methods, suggest that the marble originates from the city quarries of Aphrodisias (Caria, Asia Minor, present-day Türkiye). This finding breaks slightly with the previously established predominance of Göktepe marbles (near Aphrodisias, Asia Minor, present-day Türkiye), but confirms the dominant role of Asiatic marbles during the Severan period. The medium-quality but well-preserved, over-life-size head can be assigned to the smaller group of the first »Alleinherrschertypus«, which differs from the original archetype in the orientation to the right, potentially indicating a later date within Caracalla's sole reign. The detailing is largely in keeping with the high-quality replicas of the type. However, the shaping of the undrilled locks with the engraved internal detailing appears more schematic, having a summary character and reflecting an individual taste. The combination of the portrait's workmanship and the provenance of the marble used may provide further clues to its previously unknown origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]