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Opening Lecture—Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan
Discover how art, power, and daily life converged during the reign of one of Rome’s greatest emperors in the exhibition Ancient Splendor: Roman Art in the Time of Trajan. Developed in collaboration with curators in Rome and Naples, this landmark exhibition brings Museum patrons face-to-face with the majesty of the Roman Empire through commanding imperial portraits, intricate luxury objects, and monumental architectural reliefs—many on view in the US for the first time. Join Hannah Segrave, associate curator of European art to 1800 as she pulls back the curtain to reveal the visual language of empire at its height.
Roman, 753 BCE–395 CE; Colossal Portrait of Trajan, beginning of the 2nd century CE; marble; with wooden base; 49 x 27 x 18 1/8 x 16 inches, weight: 853 pounds 2.9 ounces; Vatican Museums, Vatican City 2026.12
Ticket information
Advance tickets can be reserved in person or through MetroTix. All tickets reserved through MetroTix incur a service charge; the service charge is waived for tickets reserved at the Museum.
Generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program.
