Marcus Aurelius

Recorded as a bust of Cicero when it entered the collection, this finely carved bust portrays Marcus Aurelius as a young boy, long before his reign as Roman emperor. The elaborate curls and draped cloak reflect the refined style of imperial portraiture. Such youthful depictions were often commissioned to affirm dynastic continuity and imperial virtues. Marcus Aurelius would later become renowned for his Stoic writings, but this image captures him at the threshold of power, embodying Rome’s ideal