Bust of a Roman

Unknown

probably 17th century · Cryptocrystalline quartz (probably chalcedony) and gold · European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

The man’s compactly curled hair and beard recall those of the Antonine emperors. Ernst Kris, author of the Weil catalogue, reasonably suggested Aelius Verus, whom Hadrian adopted as praetor and consul but who predeceased him by drinking poison. Aelius Verus was habitually shown with an anxiously knitted brow. This largish caramel-hued gem was in the Marlborough collection in the eighteenth century.

Artist

Unknown

Date

probably 17th century

Medium

Cryptocrystalline quartz (probably chalcedony) and gold

Culture

Italian

Department

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

Credit line

The Milton Weil Collection, 1938