The Nerva-Antonines in Palazzo Massimo alle Terme, Rome FOLLOWING HADRIAN

The National Roman Museum Palazzo Massimo alle Terme in Rome houses one of the world’s most important collections of Greek and Roman art. On the four floors of the museum, sculptures, frescoes, mosaics, coins, and jewels document the evolution of the Roman artistic culture from the late Republican age through Late Antiquity. In the rooms on the first floor are displayed numerous portraits of the members of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty.

The Nervan dynasty consisted of three emperors who ruled from AD 96 to 138: Nerva, Trajan and Hadrian. The Antonine dynasty consisted of four emperors who ruled from 138 to 192: Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Verus and Commodus. Five of them are commonly known as the “Five Good Emperors”. The term was coined by political philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli in his 1531 manuscript Discourses on Livy.

From the study of this history we may also learn how a good government is to be established; for while all the emperors who succeeded to the throne by birth, except Titus, were bad, all were good who succeeded by adoption, as in the case of the five from Nerva to Marcus. But as soon as the empire fell once more to the heirs by birth, its ruin recommenced.

The Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire (96 – 180 CE)
Netchev, Simeon, World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia

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Imperial portraiture of men and women in the early to mid-2nd century reflected increasing austerity and interest in Greek culture. The portraiture of Nerva and Trajan displayed a militaristic look, whilst Hadrian changed the Roman portrait style to reflect Greek styles. This style was kept by his successors Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurelius. Imperial women set the style and fashion for elite hairstyles. The styles of Trajan’s wife Plotina and his niece Matidia demonstrate a simplified abstract vertical form based on the earlier curly, extravagant Flavian style. Both Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius’ wives chose to follow their respective husband’s choice of style, and are depicted with hairstyles that derive from Greece.