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

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

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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.

European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

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

The fifty thousand objects in the Museum's comprehensive and historically important collection of European sculpture and decorative arts reflect the development of a number of art forms in Western European countries from the early fifteenth through the early twentieth century. The holdings include sculpture in many sizes and media, woodwork and furniture, ceramics and glass, metalwork and jewelry, horological and mathematical instruments, and tapestries and textiles. Ceramics made in Asia for export to European markets and sculpture and decorative arts produced in Latin America during this period are also included among these works.