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 ideals of nobility and learning. The portrait was presented to the University by Mr B Wilson in 1920, along with the bust of Augustus. It had cost £20, including carriage from Rome. By 1937 it was in an office store. Its provenance and modest price suggest it may have been made for the Grand Tour market, which catered to British collectors seeking classical antiquities as tokens of education and cultural refinement.