Bust

How it is used

A common form of portrait sculpture since Roman times. Busts are made of marble, bronze or plaster and usually stand on a pedestal. Labels say ‘bust of Emperor Hadrian’ or ‘portrait bust’.

Example sentences

1. The archaeologists cleaned the marble bust carefully before photographing it.

2. Roman portrait busts often show their subjects with wrinkles and other signs of age.

Common collocations

• marble bust
• bronze bust
• portrait bust
• bust of
• unveil a bust

Related terms

• sculptureA three-dimensional artwork made by carving, modelling, casting or assembling materials such as stone, metal, wood or clay; also the art of making such works.
• portraitA painting, drawing, photograph or sculpture of a particular person, usually showing the face and saying something about their character or status.
• marbleA hard stone, often white or with coloured veins, that can be carved and polished; it has been used for sculpture and buildings since ancient times.
• statueA sculpture of a person or animal, usually life-size or larger and free-standing, often made of stone or metal and placed in a public space.

More terms: Sculpture

• bronze
• relief
• carve
• cast