The Emperor as Philosopher, probably Marcus Aurelius (reigned AD 161-180)

Turkey, Bubon(?) (in Lycia), Roman, late 2nd Century

Date:

c. 180-200

Medium:

bronze, hollow cast in several pieces and joined

Collection:

Ancient Near East, Greek, and Roman Art [1]

Dimensions:

Overall - h:193.00 cm (h:75 15/16 inches)

Credit Line:

Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund

Accession Number:

1986.5

Gallery ID:

Gallery 103

The extremely high quality and monumental scale of this bronze draped figure suggest that this is an imperial portrait. The pose with left leg forward, right arm raised to the chest, and right hand visible - is identical to several Greek portraits of philosophers. The figure is most probably the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, who was a student of Stoicism, a set of Greek philosophical beliefs popular among educated Romans of his day. Marcus Aurelius wrote a collection of philosophical reflections called Meditations.

Inscription:

Museum Collection Highlight?:

yes

Object Type:

A

accnbr yyyy:

1 986

accnbr iiii:

5

accnbr ssss:

accnbr pppp:

Has cover record?:

No