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On loan to The Met The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Marble head of the youthful Marcus Aurelius

ca. 138 CE

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 162

This portrait depicts a youthful Marcus Aurelius prior to his reign as Emperor. Dating to ca. A.D. 140, the future ruler is shown with a voluminous head of curls and characteristic large oval eyes. He has yet to assume a long beard, which in later representations reflects his image as the "philosopher king" and his adherence to the principles of Greek Stoicism, as chronicled in twelve books known today with the modern title Meditations.

Marble head of the youthful Marcus Aurelius, Marble, Roman — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Marble head of the youthful Marcus Aurelius, Marble, Roman

Marble head of the youthful Marcus Aurelius, Marble, Roman

Marble head of the youthful Marcus Aurelius, Marble, Roman

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Marble head of the youthful Marcus Aurelius

Period: Imperial

Date: ca. 138 CE

Culture: Roman

Medium: Marble

Dimensions: 13 × 10 1/2 × 9 5/8 in., 49.5 lb. (33 × 26.7 × 24.4 cm), 49.5 lbs.

Classification: Stone Sculpture

Credit Line: Lent by the Cindy and David Sofer Collection

Object Number: L.2022.1

The Met

Greek and Roman Art at The Met

The Museum's collection of Greek and Roman art comprises more than 30,000 works ranging in date from the Neolithic period to the time of the Roman emperor Constantine's conversion to Christianity in A.D. 312.