Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs, Roman sculpture at St Mark's Basilica, Venice, Italy
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs consists of four imperial figures carved in purple porphyry stone, measuring 130 centimeters in height at St Mark's Basilica.
The sculpture originated in Constantinople around 300 AD and was transported to Venice during the Fourth Crusade when Venetians captured the city in 1204.
The identical features of the four emperors represent a departure from traditional Roman portraiture, marking a shift toward abstract representation in late Roman art.
Visitors can find this sculptural group mounted on the exterior corner wall of St Mark's Basilica, near the entrance facing the bell tower.
A missing foot from one of the imperial figures was discovered during archaeological excavations in Istanbul during the 1960s, confirming its Constantinople origins.
Location: Venice
Inception: 290s
Height: 130 cm
Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible
Made from material: porphyry
GPS coordinates: 45.43423,12.33972
Latest update: May 27, 2025 06:47
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