Roman republican portraiture is associated with the notion of a meticulously faithful representation of the subject’s appearance.

Roman republican portaiture was of the verism type or involving a rigidly truthful interpretation of reality and including ugly and vulgar topics. It also was influenced  by the hellenistic art style of the ancient Greeks.An example of this verism approach to depiction could be of an old man showing all his wrinkles and perhaps an emaciated look.