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Bust of a Roman Emperor / Bust of a man of African descent

mid-16th century
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 536
The laureate emperor carved from the paler layers of this stone has so far eluded identification. By implication, the man carved from the dark mahogany tones of the reverse, more excitingly executed in extremely low relief, may also be an emperor or perhaps an emperor’s foe. The third-century emperor known as Philip the Arab has been suggested, but for that matter the heads of unknown Africans embellish a sizable number of sixteenthcentury cameos, seldom so stylishly as here.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Bust of a Roman Emperor / Bust of a man of African descent
  • Date: mid-16th century
  • Culture: Italian
  • Medium: Sardonyx and gold
  • Dimensions: Overall, with frame: 2 1/16 x 1 9/16 in. (5.2 x 3.9 cm); Visible cameo: 48.6 x 35.7 mm
  • Classification: Lapidary Work-Gems
  • Credit Line: The Milton Weil Collection, 1938
  • Object Number: 38.150.12
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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