Hubert Ponscarme was a master of low-relief small-format bronze sculpture. Here he expertly modulated between soft and sharp gradients of relief within a depth of only a few millimeters. The design is his version of the head of the goddess Roma on the silver denarius, a coin of the Roman Republic. To make her a representation of war, Ponscarme added the oak leaves of the Civic Crown, a Roman military decoration, to the winged Phrygian helmet, with its distinctive forward-facing crest. He also gave the goddess a frowning gaze, executed in tight, sharp planes that contrast with the soft contours of the crown, hair, and wings.
Minneapolis Institute of Art
May one see it?
Minneapolis, United States
On public display.
