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
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.
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