Roman Bronze Antiquities

There is no tradition quite as brilliant as that of ancient Roman bronze. Used for everything from small votive figurines to full-scale imperial portraits, Roman bronze works reflect the popularity of the medium in the ancient world as well as the skill of ancient Roman bronze workers.

The ancient Romans adopted a love for bronze from their Mediterranean neighbors, the Greeks, as well as their Tuscan predecessors, the Etruscans, who were true masters in the medium. In addition to using bronze for larger sculptural representations, the material also became prevalent for the creation of household objects, from fine mirrors, polished to a high sheen and often featuring carved accents, to candelabras and depictions of miniature household deities.

Separated from the days of their creation by thousands of years, bronze works improve with age and develop a deep green patina for which they are renowned. With many ancient bronze examples lost to history, to attain an example of Roman bronze work in quality condition is becoming increasingly difficult.

Quick Facts

• Part of the reason ancient bronzes are lower in number is the fact that subsequent generations typically valued the medium more than the art object it conveyed. As a result, many bronzes were melted down and reused in other contexts
• One of the most popular methods for the creation of bronze sculpture was the "lost wax" method, which resulted essentially in a shell of sculpture, rather than a solid mass. This was beneficial as it both cost and weighed less
• One of the most famous Roman bronzes is that depicting second century Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius on horseback. Displayed outside for centuries, it now lives in Rome's Capitoline Museums