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Military Leaders: Marcus Aurelius And Simon Bolivar

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Military Leaders across Time

Art has been around as far back as we can document. It is a way to learn about people and events that happened in the past, as well as to get impressions of what different cultures found important or intriguing. Significant military leaders, like Marcus Aurelius and Simon Bolivar, were immortalized through works of art by way of sculptures, paintings, portraits, temples, coins, and many other forms. Their triumphs, victories, as well as their character and beliefs were captured for future generations to study and learn about their accomplishments. Both Marcus Aurelius and Simon Bolivar were looked to for guidance, and leadership. While both men fought wars for reasons of their own, they were worshipped by …show more content…

He was an emperor that was not just remembered for the wars that he fought for his people, but mainly for “his contemplative nature and his rule driven by reason” (“Marcus Aurelius” 3). His stoic beliefs, hardworking nature, and self-restraint allowed him to be loved and honored by those he ruled (“Marcus Aurelius” 2). Due to his many accomplishments and tolerant nature the Romans honored him as a man and their leader. “In ancient Rome equestrian statues of emperors would not have been uncommon sites in the city…as they were official devices for honoring the emperor for singular military and civic achievements” (Becker …show more content…

The sculpture was “originally cast using the lost-wax technique, with the horse and rider cast in multiple pieces and then soldered together after casting” (Becker 2). The artist was able to create the appearance of motion in this work of art. The horse that Marcus Aurelius sits upon is a superb example of “dynamism captured in the sculptural medium” (Becker 2). The position of the horse’s forelegs, the right is raised and bent at the knee while the left is firmly planted on the ground, as well as the musculature of the horse’s body being modeled carefully, and the head of the horse slightly turned to the right with its mouth partially opened results in a talented interpretation of motion (Becker 2). Marcus sits astride the horse, with his left hand positioned to guide reins that are no longer present (Adams 231). Appearing on the left hand is the senatorial ring (Becker 5). Capturing the speaker characteristic, that partially defined who Marcus Aurelius was, the artist extended the right arm away from the body in the “conventional gesture of an orator” (Adams 231). Signifying his status as a philosopher, his beard imitates the Greek style by covering his cheeks and upper lip while being longer at the chin region and divided down the center (Becker 4). The artist sculpted an oval shaped face with a distinctive arc over the forehead. Using heavy

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