Marcus Aurelius Statue, pedestal, elevation (recto) Marcus Aurelius Statue, pedestal, plan (verso)
early to mid-16th century
Medium
Dark brown ink, black chalk, and incised lines
Dimensions
sheet: 17 3/16 x 11 9/16 in. (43.7 x 29.3 cm)
Classification
Drawings
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Janos Scholz and Anne Bigelow Scholz, in memory of Flying Officer Walter Bigelow Rosen, RCAF, 1949
Accession Number
49.92.65
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 16th-century drawing captures precise architectural details of the pedestal for the ancient Roman equestrian statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, one of antiquity's most iconic bronzes. The recto features an elevation view, showcasing the pedestal's elegant proportions and decorative elements, while the verso presents a detailed plan, offering insight into its structural design. Created anonymously by a French artist in the early mid-1500s using dark brown ink, black, and incised lines this sheet measures 17 3/16 x 11 9/16 inches and exemplifies Renaissance draftsman's precision. ...