Emperor Lucius Verus, Emperor of Rome (130 – 169 AD)
Category
Art / Sculpture
Date
1700 - 1800
Materials
Fine grained white marble
Measurements
450 x 320 x 120 mm
Collection
Farnborough Hall, Warwickshire
NT 831164
Summary
Oval tondo with ancient head of Lucius Verus. Left profile of portrait head of Lucius Verus (AD 161-169) set into 18th century medallion. Third quarter of second century. Left profile of ancient head on non-pertinent ancient bust set into modern medallion. Only the head and throat are ancient. The medallion and the bust are worked together from one piece of marble and are modern. The tip of the nose, a chip on the throat, and part of the hair on the upper head, and locks at the back of the head on the medallion are all restorations. The head has been cut lengthwise in order to incorporate it into a medallion. It has been heavily cleaned. This has changed some of the locks of hair over the brow. The pupils have been marked with two drill points, thus forming a 'pelta' shape. The drill has been used heavily to give volume to the hair and beard.
Provenance
The portrait head depicts the Emperor Lucius Verus. It follows his last (most mature) portrait type which was created when he became co-ruler in AD 161 with his adopted brother Marcus Aurelius and which was used until his death in AD 169. The head has been cut in half, and this, the left profile, has been set into a medallion. The other portion of the head was probably damaged. The restoration of the nose has cancelled the original hook nose of Lucius Verus and the over-cleaning of the brow has altered the direction and shape of some locks. The head is nonetheless clearly ancient because of its careful adherence to the type and its clearly later second century drillwork.