Marcus Aurelius, front view.
Title
Marcus Aurelius , front view .
Date
170 [CE]?
Cultural Context
Ancient Roman Italian European Western European
Style/Period
Roman (ancient Italian style) Antonine Imperial (Roman)
Subject
Sculpture Portraits Emperors Rulers Men People associated with politics & government Clothing & dress Capes (Clothing) Fasteners Hairstyles Beards Mustaches
Description
Discovered at Acqua Traversa (near Rome) , 1674 . "This bust , in nearly perfect condition , is characterized by the contrast between the light and brilliant skin of the face and the dark mass of hair , covered with concretions . Numerous grooves and stains on the left side of the face show that concretions were also scratched into the flesh . The sculptor clearly appreciated the play of light and shadow and enhanced it by skillfully carving (with a drill) the hair and the fringe of the paludamentum (military cloak) that covers the cuirass . Such an approach was common in the Antonine era , when a search for visual effects distinguished it from the prevailing classicism of the eras of Hadrian and Antoninus Pius . [...] The portrait shown here belongs to type III , or 'Type Term 726, ' the creation of which dates to the accession of the new emperor in 161 A.D . The type was reproduced throughout his reign , but 166 A.D. , when Marcus Aurelius asserted his authority , marks the beginning of type IV , or 'Museo Capitolino Imperatori 38. ' So it is interesting to note that it is type III , a style that prevailed at the time of power-sharing , which is best represented at Acqua Traversa. " (Excerpt from catalogue entry by Daniel Roger , pp . 58-59) . Purchased in 1807 , formerly in the Borghese collection (MA 1166-INV . MR 561 ; N 1416) . Restorer : C . Devos , 2006 .
People Pictured
Marcus Aurelius, Emperor of Rome, 121-180
Material
Fine-grained marble Marble (rock) Rock Stone (rock)
Measurements
H: 33 in (86 cm)
Technique
Sculpting Carving (processes)
Work Type
Sculpture Busts Portraits Statues
Repository
Musee du Louvre (Paris, France)
Source
Giroire, Cecile, and Daniel Roger. Roman Art from the Louvre. New York: American Federation of Arts in assoc. with Hudson Hills Press, 2007. (p.59, cat.7).
Rights
Photographs of the works in the exhibition reproduced in Giroire courtesy: Copyright © 2007 Musee du Louvre and the American Federation of Arts/Anne Chauvet, Daniel Lebee, and Carine De Ambrosis.
Digital Publisher
University of Louisville Department of Fine Arts/Allen R. Hite Art Institute Visual Resources Center
Format
image/jpeg
Digital File Name
VRC 762-02.jpg
Rating
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