PSA: This is not Josephus.
The Roman bust was identified as Josephus in 1930 having previously been catalogued as "some unidentified Jew" - I'll give you one guess why (hint: it's racism).
There's no reason to think this is a Jewish man anymore than any other unidentified male Roman portrait.
The Roman bust was identified as Josephus in 1930 having previously been catalogued as "some unidentified Jew" - I'll give you one guess why (hint: it's racism).
There's no reason to think this is a Jewish man anymore than any other unidentified male Roman portrait.
Comments
He seems to be a pretty well sculpted fellow to me.
As self-appointed untutored PR man for The Jews, I say we don't overthink this and just claim him.
https://www.kulturarv.dk/mussam/VisGenstand.action?genstandId=7552423
Rather they're illustrations from the 19thC reflecting the orientalism of the period - in which the (usually) Islamic inhabitants of the MENA were projected back into the ancient past creating the sense of an ahistorical people.
Here, Josephus is imagined as an Ottoman.
The white hair and long beard indicate 'Eastern' wise man; the pointed hat meanwhile was a new insignia to mark 'the Jew'. His shabbier clothing, bent knees and outstretched hand show him humbling himself as a devoted subject to two Roman/Christian rulers.
When we include art representing (or purporting to represent) a figure or event, in publications or presentations, we are not simply adding a decorative facsimile of the subject.
Art is never silent - even if you're silent about the art.