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:
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: