<P> Portraiture is a dominant genre of Roman sculpture , growing perhaps from the traditional Roman emphasis on family and ancestors ; the entrance hall ( atrium ) of a Roman elite house displayed ancestral portrait busts . During the Roman Republic , it was considered a sign of character not to gloss over physical imperfections , and to depict men in particular as rugged and unconcerned with vanity : the portrait was a map of experience . During the Imperial era , more idealized statues of Roman emperors became ubiquitous , particularly in connection with the state religion of Rome . Tombstones of even the modestly rich middle class sometimes exhibit portraits of the otherwise unknown deceased carved in relief . </P>
<P> Portraiture is a dominant genre of Roman sculpture , growing perhaps from the traditional Roman emphasis on family and ancestors ; the entrance hall ( atrium ) of a Roman elite house displayed ancestral portrait busts . During the Roman Republic , it was considered a sign of character not to gloss over physical imperfections , and to depict men in particular as rugged and unconcerned with vanity : the portrait was a map of experience . During the Imperial era , more idealized statues of Roman emperors became ubiquitous , particularly in connection with the state religion of Rome . Tombstones of even the modestly rich middle class sometimes exhibit portraits of the otherwise unknown deceased carved in relief . </P>
who were the subjects of most roman sculptures
who were the subjects of most roman sculptures
ancestors
ancestors