The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs is a porphyry sculpture group of four Roman emperors dating from around 300 AD. The sculptural group has been fixed to a corner of the façade of St Mark's Basilica in Venice, Italy since the Middle Ages. It probably formed part of the decorations of the Philadelphion in Constantinople, and was removed to Venice in 1204 or soon after.
Spolia from the Fourth Crusade, the statues were originally designed as two separate sculptures, each consisting of a pair of armoured late Roman emperors embracing one another. The paired statues stand on plinths supported by a console of the same stone, and their backs are engaged in the remains of large porphyry columns to which the statues were once attached, carved all of a piece. The columns no longer exist, and one emperor pair is missing part of the plinth and an emperor's foot, which has been found in Istanbul. One statue pair has been sliced vertically and is missing a large portion of the right-hand emperor's right side, while another vertical slice divides the two figures and has sawn through their embracing arms.
Beautiful monument in the grand open space.
Gong DFeb 17, 2018
Very easy to miss, but worth finding!
SolaniqueDec 20, 2017
If you don't know you going to miss this place but certainly worth to look at them
federico iannacconeApr 6, 2017
The back story about these four figures is fascinating and there is something comforting about seeing them up against the side of St. Mark's Basilica. Every time I visit Venice I make sure that I go up and visit these warm souls.
Wayne JohnsonDec 1, 2016
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs is a sculpture group of four Roman emperors dating from around 300 AD.
Bhagwan AthareSep 11, 2017
I love these little guys and their trepid stare and tight grip on each other. Too bad one of them left his heel in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. I bet he misses it.
M R NoneyaMay 9, 2018
Beautiful monument in the grand open space.
Gong DFeb 17, 2018
Very easy to miss, but worth finding!
SolaniqueDec 20, 2017
If you don't know you going to miss this place but certainly worth to look at them
federico iannacconeApr 6, 2017
The back story about these four figures is fascinating and there is something comforting about seeing them up against the side of St. Mark's Basilica. Every time I visit Venice I make sure that I go up and visit these warm souls.
Wayne JohnsonDec 1, 2016
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs is a sculpture group of four Roman emperors dating from around 300 AD.
Bhagwan AthareSep 11, 2017
I love these little guys and their trepid stare and tight grip on each other. Too bad one of them left his heel in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. I bet he misses it.
M R NoneyaMay 9, 2018
Beautiful monument in the grand open space.
Gong DFeb 17, 2018
Very easy to miss, but worth finding!
SolaniqueDec 20, 2017
If you don't know you going to miss this place but certainly worth to look at them
federico iannacconeApr 6, 2017
The back story about these four figures is fascinating and there is something comforting about seeing them up against the side of St. Mark's Basilica. Every time I visit Venice I make sure that I go up and visit these warm souls.
Wayne JohnsonDec 1, 2016
The Portrait of the Four Tetrarchs is a sculpture group of four Roman emperors dating from around 300 AD.
Bhagwan AthareSep 11, 2017
I love these little guys and their trepid stare and tight grip on each other. Too bad one of them left his heel in the Istanbul Archaeology Museum. I bet he misses it.
M R NoneyaMay 9, 2018
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