Aged Marcus Aurelius
Title
Aged Marcus Aurelius
Date
Roman imperial Antonine, c. 180 CE
Artist or Workshop
unknown
Materials
marble
Height of the work
35cm tall (estimated)
Provenience
House of the Vestals, Roman Forum, Rome, Italy
Current Location
Museo Nazionale delle Terme, Rome, Italy
Sitter Biography
Marcus Aurelius (b. 121 d. 180 CE) was co-emperor of Rome, with Lucius Verus, from 160-169 CE, and sole emperor from 169-180 CE, succeeding his adoptive father, Antoninus Pius. He was also a philosopher of some renown, writing the Meditations, a statement of his Stoic philosophy. Marcus Aurelius died of natural causes on a military campaign against Germanic tribes, and was succeeded as emperor by his son Commodus.
Description and Significance
Description:
Statue is a life-sized bust (only head is original) of the philosopher-emperor. Marcus is wearing the full beard that features in all his adult imperial portraits. The hair is thick and curly, swept up from his forehead. There is slight hint of a "widow's peak" at the crown. The expression is sombre, with downcast, fully incised eyes and heavy eyelids The forehead is lined and overall face appears middle-aged.
Significance:
This portrait bust conforms to "Type 4" of the bearded mature Marcus Aurleius. It marks a return to Roman verism, which excelled at purely mimetic depictions of old age, but with added psychological depth. The age of the portrait appears to match the age of Marcus Aurelius at the time (around 59 years old). The downcast look and unfocused gaze gives the subject an introspective, almost haunted expression that is outstanding in Roman portrait sculpture. Here is a definitive portrait of Marcus Aurlieus as "philosopher king"--the stoic sage contemplating the future of the state from the vantage point of his advanced years and philospical detachment.
Statue is a life-sized bust (only head is original) of the philosopher-emperor. Marcus is wearing the full beard that features in all his adult imperial portraits. The hair is thick and curly, swept up from his forehead. There is slight hint of a "widow's peak" at the crown. The expression is sombre, with downcast, fully incised eyes and heavy eyelids The forehead is lined and overall face appears middle-aged.
Significance:
This portrait bust conforms to "Type 4" of the bearded mature Marcus Aurleius. It marks a return to Roman verism, which excelled at purely mimetic depictions of old age, but with added psychological depth. The age of the portrait appears to match the age of Marcus Aurelius at the time (around 59 years old). The downcast look and unfocused gaze gives the subject an introspective, almost haunted expression that is outstanding in Roman portrait sculpture. Here is a definitive portrait of Marcus Aurlieus as "philosopher king"--the stoic sage contemplating the future of the state from the vantage point of his advanced years and philospical detachment.
References
Bouzek, Jan. "Artistic and Literary Portraits as Expressions of
Changing State of Mind," Roman Portraits Artistic and Literary
Acts of the Third International Conference on the Roman
Portrait, Verlag Philipp von Zabern, 1989, pp. 101-103.
Fittschen, Klaus and Paul Zanker. Katalog der romischen
Portrats in den Capitolischen Museen und den anderen
kommunalen Sammlungen der Stadt Rom. Band 1, Verlag
Philipp von Zabern, 1985, pp. 68-72.
Kleiner, Diana. Roman Sculpture, Yale University Press, 1992,
pp.271-3.
Changing State of Mind," Roman Portraits Artistic and Literary
Acts of the Third International Conference on the Roman
Portrait, Verlag Philipp von Zabern, 1989, pp. 101-103.
Fittschen, Klaus and Paul Zanker. Katalog der romischen
Portrats in den Capitolischen Museen und den anderen
kommunalen Sammlungen der Stadt Rom. Band 1, Verlag
Philipp von Zabern, 1985, pp. 68-72.
Kleiner, Diana. Roman Sculpture, Yale University Press, 1992,
pp.271-3.
Contributor
Mark Weadon
Citation
unknown, “Aged Marcus Aurelius,” Digital Portrait "Basket" - ARTH488A - "Ancient Mediterranean Portraiture", accessed May 20, 2024, https://classicalchopped2.artinterp.org/omeka/items/show/52.
Item Relations
This item has no relations.