Modern Portrait of Lucius Verus

The alabaster and the ancient black marble give a remarkable chromatic contrast to this modern portrait of Lucius Verus, replica of the “joint kingdom” model, created in occasion of the first consulship assumed together by Lucius Verus and Marcus Aurelius. Virtuous is the treatment of the beard and hair, that rendered with the use of the chisel and drill, give a remarkable quality to the work. The ancient historical sources, often hostile, convey the negative aspects of Lucius Verus to highlight the qualities of Marcus Aurelius, a virtuous ruler with a cheerful character in contrast to the shy and superficial one of his half-brother.
The Torlonia portrait, placed on a bust with armour and paludamentum, was displayed together as a pendant with the modern portrait of Marcus Aurelius, also made in black marble, in the Giustiniani Collection.

Inventory: MT 350

Material: Antique black marble for the head; alabaster for the bust

Technique: Work sculpted through the use of: chisels (also square-tipped and toothed) rasps

Dating: Imperial age

Origin: Giustiniani Collection