Myth and Marble: Ancient Roman Sculpture from the Torlonia Collection

Empire of Images invites the reader to explore the works in the storied Torlonia Collection, one of the largest and most important collections of ancient Roman marble sculptures in the world, including portraits of individuals and the imperial family, sculptures of gods and heroes, and large-scale funerary monuments. This book presents stunning new images of dozens of these sculptures, most of them dating to the height of the Roman Empire and half of which have never been published. Featuring essays that introduce readers to Roman marble sculpture and visual culture through these works, connect the cosmopolitanism of ancient Romans with our experience of their art today, and tell the story of the collection's formation, this publication provides an engaging and unprecedented introduction to the Torlonia Collection.

Distributed for the Art Institute of Chicago

Exhibition Schedule:

The Art Institute of Chicago
(March 15-June 29, 2025)