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Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs

Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs is a porphyry sculptural group of four Roman emperors dating to around 300 CE. It is one of the most characteristic artworks of the Late Roman Empire. The sculpture has been fixed to a corner of the façade of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice, Italy since the Middle Ages, and was probably originally part of the decorations of the Philadelphion in Constantinople before being moved to Venice in 1204 or soon after. The work was originally designed as two separate sculptures, each showing a pair of late Roman emperors in armor embracing. There is debate about the identities of the figures and their arrangement, but they are generally linked to the first Tetrarchy established by Diocletian.

Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, a dark reddish-purple porphyry sculpture of four stylized figures embracing in two pairs.
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, a worn porphyry sculpture group of four stylized rulers in two embracing pairs.
October 2023 © · CC BY 4.0
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, with four dark stone figures embracing in pairs beside a carved base.
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, showing the four paired figures in dark stone.
© Rijksmuseum · CC0
Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, a dark stone sculpture of four helmeted figures holding swords and embracing in pairs.
Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, showing the four rulers grouped in two embracing pairs on a carved pedestal.
1903 © · No restrictions
Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, a dark carved group of four figures embracing, set before an ornate arched building.
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs stands outdoors in Venice beside an ornate historic building.
© · CC BY-SA 4.0
Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs sculpture beside an ornate stone building corner
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs beside the corner of a Venetian palace.
© Carlo Ponti · Public domain

Identification

TitlePortrait of the Four Tetrarchs
Alternative namesThe Four Tetrarchs; The Tetrarchs; Monument to the Tetrarchs; Statue of the Four Tetrarchs
TypeSculptural group
SubjectFour Roman emperors of the Tetrarchy

Historical context

Datearound 300 CE
PeriodLate Roman Empire
Historical contextAssociated with the Roman Tetrarchy created by Diocletian

Creator

Art-historical attributionEastern school of Roman art

Discovery and provenance

Probable original locationThe Philadelphion in Constantinople, probably as part of the decoration of the Capitolium
Original installationUnknown; probably transported to Constantinople from Diocletian's palace in Nicomedia
Removal to VeniceTaken to Venice in 1204 or shortly after, likely as spoils of the Fourth Crusade

Location and ownership

Current locationFixed to a corner of the facade of St. Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy
Location sinceSince the Middle Ages

Physical characteristics

Number of figuresFour
Number of statuesTwo paired statues
ScaleSlightly smaller than life-size
Heightabout 1.30 meters

Materials

MaterialPorphyry
Material originEgypt

Technique

TechniqueCarved from porphyry and attached to columns; the figures are almost fully sculptural in high relief, with their backs merging into the columns

Appearance

BeardsTwo figures have beards; two are clean-shaven
SupportThe statues stand on plinths supported by consoles of the same stone
DecorationShoes and sword scabbards are decorated with gemstones; one pair also has jeweled belts
CompositionTwo pairs of nearly identically dressed men embracing each other
Facial styleRigid, non-individualized faces
Clothing and equipmentMilitary dress with muscle cuirass, paludamentum, long-sleeved tunic with skirt reinforced by leather strips, pteruges, Pannonian cap, campagi, and spathae with jeweled scabbards
PoseEach figure embraces the other with one hand and rests the other on a spatha
HeadgearPilleus Pannonicus

Condition

ConditionLargely preserved, but with major losses and repairs
DamageThe original columns no longer exist; one pair is missing part of the pedestal and one foot, one statue pair is vertically cut and missing much of the right-hand emperor's right side, and another vertical cut separates the two figures and cuts off an arm; all portraits are missing their noses
Recovered fragmentThe missing foot fragment was found in Istanbul in the 1960s and is now in the Istanbul Archaeological Museum

History and restoration

RestorationThe missing pedestal and foot were reconstructed by local craftsmen

Iconography and meaning

Alternative identificationAn older theory identified the group as a dynastic group of the Constantinian dynasty; another interpretation proposed the Second Tetrarchy with Galerius, Constantius Chlorus, Severus, and Maximinus Daia
SymbolismThe embrace symbolizes unity, solidarity, and stability of the Tetrarchy and the Roman Empire
Depicted rulersDiocletian, Maximian, Galerius, and Constantius I Chlorus
Arrangement theoryThe eastern rulers may form one pair and the western rulers the other
InterpretationProbably the First Tetrarchy, arranged in two pairs of an older Augustus and a younger Caesar; a less likely alternative is that the two Augusti are shown together and the two Caesars together
Political relationDiocletian named Maximian as co-Augustus and appointed Galerius and Constantius I Chlorus as Caesars

Significance

Style significanceOne of the most characteristic works of art of the Late Roman Empire
Interpretive functionA public imperial image meant to emphasize collective power, dynastic unity, and the tetrarchs' ability to reward loyalty and punish rebellion

Other

Material significancePorphyry was rare, expensive, difficult to obtain in large quantities, and associated with imperial honor and permanence