BARBAROSSA

CITIZENS OF MILAN RETURNING TO MILAN AFTER THE DESTRUCTION BY BARBAROSSA – BAS-RELIEF ON THE ARCHWAY OF PORTA ROMANA – YEAR 1171 – CITY MUSEUM, MILAN

The naïve coarseness of the figurative elements perfectly represents masculine apparel in the XII century in its every detail: short hair parted in the middle to lead the forehead bare, moderately long beard, garment which flares from the waist so that it forms large rounded pleats, closed shoes with a small side slit for reasons of practicality.