"Marengo Treasure" – Lucius Verus' Silver Bust
This precious find belongs to the so-called "Treasure of Marengo", a vast collection of precious objects worked in silver, accidentally discovered in 1928 during agricultural work carried out in the town of Marengo (Alessandria). This bust corresponds to the portrait type known as Haupttypus-type, dating from the years of co-regency with Marcus Aurelius. This portrait type was created at the time of his accession to the throne (161 AD), or slightly earlier, and remained substantially unchanged until his premature death in 169 AD.
Compared to the marble portraits, that of Marengo does not attenuate the irregularities of his face: the asymmetrical eyes, with the protruding bulb and the cross-eyed gaze turned upwards, or the aquiline nose which thickens at the end exclude any hypothesis of idealization, to the advantage of an expressiveness of a more realistic taste.
Such realism suggests that the portrait was manufactured before his early death (A.D. 169).
The bust was recovered crushed, but the restoration (1936) reestablished the flawed and irregular features of his face.
The cuirass covered with the aegis (goat skin) with Medusa's head (gorgoneion), is a sign of assimilation to Jupiter and therefore exclusive to emperors. The bust, which was fixed to a wooden core through nails, might have been exhibited in a shrine dedicated to the imperial cult, or have had a celebratory or military function (perhaps hoisted on banners by the imperial legions).
Source: Museo di Antichità di Torino, “Tesoro di Marengo”
Embossed silver foil
Overall eight 55.3 cm; height of the head (from the top of the hair to the tip of the beard), 27.8 cm; width max 50.2 cm;
weight 2850 g, thickness. foil 1.5-2 mm.
A.D. 160 – 169
Torino, Museo delle antichità
"Marengo Treasure" – Lucius Verus' Silver Bust
This precious find belongs to the so-called "Treasure of Marengo", a vast collection of precious objects worked in silver, accidentally discovered in 1928 during agricultural work carried out in the town of Marengo (Alessandria). This bust corresponds to the portrait type known as Haupttypus-type, dating from the years of co-regency with Marcus Aurelius. This portrait type was created at the time of his accession to the throne (161 AD), or slightly earlier, and remained substantially unchanged until his premature death in 169 AD.
Compared to the marble portraits, that of Marengo does not attenuate the irregularities of his face: the asymmetrical eyes, with the protruding bulb and the cross-eyed gaze turned upwards, or the aquiline nose which thickens at the end exclude any hypothesis of idealization, to the advantage of an expressiveness of a more realistic taste.
Such realism suggests that the portrait was manufactured before his early death (A.D. 169).
The bust was recovered crushed, but the restoration (1936) reestablished the flawed and irregular features of his face.
The cuirass covered with the aegis (goat skin) with Medusa's head (gorgoneion), is a sign of assimilation to Jupiter and therefore exclusive to emperors. The bust, which was fixed to a wooden core through nails, might have been exhibited in a shrine dedicated to the imperial cult, or have had a celebratory or military function (perhaps hoisted on banners by the imperial legions).
Source: Museo di Antichità di Torino, “Tesoro di Marengo”
Embossed silver foil
Overall eight 55.3 cm; height of the head (from the top of the hair to the tip of the beard), 27.8 cm; width max 50.2 cm;
weight 2850 g, thickness. foil 1.5-2 mm.
A.D. 160 – 169
Torino, Museo delle antichità