Cameo Portraying Tiberius
14-37 (cameo); 1525-1550 (mount)
Medium
Gold, sardonyx, enamel, and pearl
Dimensions
8 × 4.8 × 1 cm (3 3/16 × 1 7/8 × 3/8 in.)
Classification
jewelry
Department
Arts of Greece, Rome, and Byzantium
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
119273
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Although Tiberius (reigned 14–37) was 56 years old when he became emperor of Rome, portraits of him, such as this one, depict a conspicuously younger man. Here he is shown in profile and crowned with a laurel wreath, a symbol of victory. The comma-shaped locks that cover his forehead resemble those of his predecessor, Augustus, but his large eyes and slightly protruding upper lip identify him as Tiberius. This portrait was carved from a layered piece of agate with brown and white bands so that t...
About the Artist
Ancient Roman
The artists attributed to "Ancient Roman" in museum collections represent the anonymous craftsmen who produced the vast output of sculpture, frescoes, mosaics, and reliefs defining Roman visual culture from the Republic (c. 509–27 BCE) to the late Empire (c. 395 CE). Individual identities remain elusive, as Roman makers were typically viewed as skilled tradesmen—often enslaved Greeks or provincial...