French school; late 19th century.

French School; late 19th century.
“Lucio Vero.”
Gilded bronze.
Shows signs of wear.
Measurements: 23.5 x 11 x 9.5 cm.
Patinated bronze bust depicting Lucius Verus, a 2nd-century Roman emperor and co-ruler alongside Marcus Aurelius. The work follows classical models of imperial portraiture, with particular attention to the rendering of the curly hair, the full beard, and the stern expression—characteristic features of Antonine iconography. The piece stands out for the quality of its modeling and its “archaeologizing” style, typical of 19th-century historicist taste.
This sculpture was created during the “Grand Tour”—a term that first appeared in Richard Lassels’ *Le Voyage d’Italie* and was used to describe the long journey through Europe, particularly Italy, that young British aristocrats typically undertook beginning in the 17th century, but especially throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The purpose of the journey was for these young people to become acquainted with the art and culture of France and Italy in particular, to admire classical art firsthand, to learn or improve their language skills, and to establish contacts and relationships with the cultural and political elites of these countries. Often, travelers sought out pieces with which to start their own art collections—objects to take back as souvenirs to their homes. For this reason, workshops specializing in replicas of Roman artifacts, in both bronze and marble, sprang up, some of which gained a great reputation.