The Galleria degli Uffizi in Florence is one of the world’s oldest and most famous art museums. In addition to Renaissance masterpieces, including works from Botticelli, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci, the Uffizi houses one of the world’s most important collections of ancient Roman and Greek statues. The Medicis’ interest in ancient art started with the founder of the family, Cosimo I de’ Medici (1519-1574), and grew over nearly four decades. The antiquities were stored and displayed in several rooms in Palazzo Vecchio and Palazzo Pitti, where visitors could admire them in the court. They were later transferred to the Uffizi.
Most of the ancient statues and busts are displayed on the u-shaped second floor of the museum. The wide corridors are filled with numerous portraits of the members of the different imperial dynasties, including those 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 AD 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.
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- Nerva (ruled AD 96 – 98)
- Trajan (ruled AD 98 – 117)
- Ulpia Marciana, beloved elder sister of Trajan
- Salonina Matidia, niece of Trajan and mother-in-law of Hadrian
- Hadrian (ruled AD 117 – 138)
- Antinous, Hadrian’s lover
- Lucius Aelius Caesar, the intended successor of Hadrian
- Antoninus Pius (AD ruled 138 – 161)
- Empress Faustina the Elder, wife of Antoninus Pius
- Marcus Aurelius (ruled AD 161 – 180)
- Empress Faustina the Younger, wife of Marcus Aurelius
- Lucius Verus (ruled AD 161 – 169)
- Empress Crispina, wife of Commodus
In addition to the members of the Nerva-Antonine dynasty, the Uffizi houses several portraits of unknown citizens from the same era. Some of these portraits were incorrectly attributed to members of the dynasty during the Renaissance, but the original inscriptions have remained.
- Private portraits of unknown citizens from the Nerva-Antonine era
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Stunning photo’s Carole. My Fav are Faustina the elder, Marcu Aurelius and Vibia Sabine of course Hadrians wife.
Interesting; great photos. I live about 15 miles from Hadrian’s Wall in the UK!