Getty Villa Mounts Tiberius Exhibition

Statue of Tiberius, Roman, A.D. 37, Bronze, 96 7/8 in. (246 cm) high. Soprintendenza Speciale per i Beni Archeologici di Napoli e Pompei – Museo Archeologico Nazionale di Napoli, Laboratorio di Conservazione e Restauro.

The Getty Villa in Malibu, California, is mounting the ‘Tiberius: Portrait of an Emperor’ show. A larger than life bronze statue of the ancient Roman Emperor Tiberius forms the centerpiece of the exhibition that explores his character and career. Tiberius ruled from 14 AD to 37 AD, and the statue was erected at Herculaneum towards the end of his life. However, the statue was damaged by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. It was discovered in 1741, during the first years of excavation at Herculaneum. The statue is the subject of a recent conservation project by the Getty Villa and is on loan from the Museo Archeologico Nazionale (National Archaeological Museum) in Naples. Through twists of fate and familial circumstance, Tiberius succeeded Augustus to become Rome’s second emperor. Yet, ill at ease with his position, Tiberius famously removed himself to the island of Capri for the final decade of his reign. ‘Tiberius: Portrait of an Emperor’ is organised by the J. Paul Getty Museum and Naples’ Museo Archeologico Nazionale. The show runs from 16 October 2013 to 3 March 2014.