Joacim Seger

C.M. Lerici Foundation’s scholarship

My research project investigates the so-called imagines clipeatae (shield portraits), the Latin term for a portrait type udually consisting of busts framed within shield-like frames, which appear in a wide range of contexts across the Roman world. Although this portrait format was relatively widespread throughout the Roman Empire, it has received limited scholarly attention, rendering this study particularly timely and necessary.
The project surveys shield portraits  across an extensive geographical and chronological span, encompassing the entirety of the Roman world from the second century BCE through the fourth century CE. It integrates theoretical approaches from both art history and memory studies, and concerns itself with questions of tradition, innovation, and self-representation.
During my fellowship period, I will undertake several extended field excursions to examine the material in situ, with particular emphasis on stylistic and spatial analyses. These investigations will be followed by sustained periods of library-based research, culminating in the production of a dissertation chapter.