From time to time throughout history, in vastly different parts of the world, certain cultures have fashioned portraits that seem to capture not only the likeness of their sitters, but the very spirit of their age. These images depict more than the faces of men and women in fine costume; they provide telling clues about how the sitters viewed their place in society and their place in the world. Such is the case with the dynastic portraits of Egypt, the sculptures of republican Rome and the clay vessels of the Mochica. Depicting the artistocratic rulers of ancient Peru these images allow us to glimpse the soul of a people. Here, a nobleman displays the inner confidence born of generations of privilege and power.