An Analysis of The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius

The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius and the Equestrian Monument to Bernado Visconti are two works of art that at a cursory glimpse, look so parallel, both have powerful men on horses, thus equestrian. But each sculpture embodies a polar opposite man at unrelated times in history. A statesman of conflict verses a statesman of peace, a loved head of state as opposed to a detested head of state. One monument sponsored by affectionate supporters after death while the other by money levied by unhappy citizens during the lord’s lifetime.

An enormous mission faced Marcus Aurelius when he became the Roman emperor in 161 AD. Generations of extravagance had made the nobles, weak and selfish. The middle class was vanishing, and the working class was being reduced to a state of slavery. Germanic tribes were at the borders of the empire, while few Romans seemed willing to defend their homeland. Marcus Aurelius had been trained in the Greek philosophy, and he followed it throughout his li...