Relief, Marmor-Hochrelief eines römischen Kaisers, wohl Marc Aurel - 42 cm - Marble

Massive, deeply carved high relief in white marble depicting the profile portrait of a bearded Roman emperor, probably Marcus Aurelius (Marcus Aurelius, 121–180 AD).

The emperor is shown in profile. The sharply modeled face features a strong, prominent nose, a pronounced brow, and a full beard. Particularly characteristic is the voluminous hairstyle, made up of numerous sculpted curls, some of them spirally coiled.

A sculpted leafy or laurel wreath runs above the hair, emphasizing the imperial character of the portrait. The combination of thick curly hair, a full beard, and a laurel wreath draws on the visual language of ancient Roman imperial portraits and is particularly reminiscent of depictions of Marcus Aurelius.

The chest and shoulder area is also boldly modeled in relief. Overlapping garment or armor elements, with decorative borders and raised details, lend the portrait a pronounced sense of depth.

The tall rectangular marble slab has a rounded top. With a thickness of approximately 7 cm and a weight of around 15 kg, this is an exceptionally massive sculptural work.

The portrait follows ancient Roman imperial iconography, but should be classified as a post-antique work in the Renaissance tradition. The revival of ancient imperial portraits and their execution as marble reliefs were among the characteristic forms of the reception of antiquity in Italian art.
The reverse is largely flat, with clearly visible working and tool marks.

Condition consistent with age, with surface and signs of use. Minor knocks, abrasion, and irregularities, particularly along the edges and on the raised areas.

The relief was not professionally cleaned at an earlier date. Cleaning marks, along with deposits and discoloration that remain, are particularly visible in the recessed areas.
The principal sculptural details of the face, beard, curls, wreath, and clothing are well preserved.