Highlights of the collection
23 - 41 AD
41 x 25 x 25 cm
Carved white marble
MNAT 45003
A portrait of the prince Nero Julius Caesar found in the area of the Forum of the Colonia Tarraco, where it was probably part of a gallery of portraits of the Julio-Claudian family.
Nero Julius Caesar was the son of Germanicus and Agrippina, brother of Caligula and nephew of Claudius. In 23 AD Tiberius named him his heir, along with his brother Drusus, but shortly afterwards they both fell into disgrace.
This is a particularly important piece as there are very few known portraits of him anywhere in the Roman world. He is depicted with a slight beard, which is quite unusual in the sculpture of this period.
