Wooden bust of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius—second half of the 17th century

A gilded wooden bust from the second half of the 17th century depicting Marcus Aurelius, the Roman emperor, writer, and philosopher. He reigned from 161 until 180, the year of his death, and is considered an “enlightened ruler,” the fifth and last of the so-called “Good Emperors,” despite the fact that his reign was marked by wars, famines, and plagues. Marcus Aurelius is also remembered as an important historical philosopher and the author of *Meditations*. Dimensions with base: 50x68 Dimensions without base: 50x55 Base diameter: 15