Marble funerary relief
Unknown Artist
2nd–3rd century CE
Medium
Marble
Dimensions
H.: 25 1/4 in. (64.1 cm) Other: 23 in. (58.4 cm)
Classification
Stone Sculpture
Culture & Period
Roman · Imperial
Department
Greek and Roman Art
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Fletcher Fund, 1949
Accession Number
49.69.5
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite marble funerary relief, crafted by an unknown artist during the Roman Imperial period (2nd–3rd century CE), offers a poignant glimpse into ancient Roman family life and commemoration practices. Measuring about 25 inches high and 23 inches wide, it likely depicts a group including boys, men, and women—possibly a multigenerational family portrait carved to honor the deceased on a tomb monument. Such reliefs were common in Roman cemeteries, serving as eternal tributes that blended portraiture with symbolic elements to ensure the memory of loved ones endured. Historically, these sc...