Bust of Marcus Aurelius

Bust of Marcus Aurelius
Plaster
20th Century

H 41 x W 27 x D 17 cm
H 16 1/8 x W 10 2/3 x D 6 2/3 inch


This expressive plaster bust of Marcus Aurelius is a compelling 20th-century interpretation of the Roman emperor-philosopher (r. AD 161–180), whose meditative writings and virtuous governance left a lasting imprint on Western philosophical and political thought. This model draws on classical prototypes, notably the marble busts preserved in the Capitoline Museums (Rome) and the Louvre (Paris), which depict the emperor with a full beard, deeply furrowed brow, and a gaze imbued with introspection — canonical traits of Antonine imperial portraiture.

Here, the sculptor emphasizes raw modeling and expressive texture over refined finish. The plaster has been worked vigorously, particularly in the voluminous curls of the hair and beard, with deep, irregular tool marks that suggest an affinity with academic or atelier practice models rather than polished decorative casts. The drapery is schematically treated, with gestural folds that accentuate the impression of spontaneity and mass. The expressive qualities of the bust — notably the deliberate contrast between the smooth modelling of the facial planes and the dynamic treatment of the hair — suggest it may have originated as an artist’s maquette or as part of a pedagogical collection used in academic settings for study and drawing.

The interior of the bust is hollow and reveals construction marks consistent with studio production. This work not only embodies a 20th-century reinterpretation of imperial Roman imagery but also reflects broader neoclassical and academic interests in antiquity. The bust stands as both a sculptural homage and a material document of the enduring legacy of Marcus Aurelius in European artistic and intellectual culture.

References:

Capitoline Museums, Inv. MC0612: Bust of Marcus Aurelius, Rome.
Musée du Louvre, MA 1120: Portrait of Marcus Aurelius.
Kleiner, Diana E.E., Roman Sculpture, Yale University Press, 1992.
Boschung, Dietrich. Die Bildnisse des Marc Aurel. Mainz: Philipp von Zabern, 1993 (Corpus der römischen Porträtplastik III/5).