Antinous

Vatican Museums, Vatican City
May 2026

This sculpture was enourmous. The size implied that this was someone of great historical importance, however I was surprised to learn that Antinous was not an emperor or military leader, but the young companion of Hadrian.

While beautifully executed, the sculpture felt more idealized than human. Compared with some of the more expressive works in the collection, I found it impressive rather than moving

Following his death, Antinous became one of the most frequently depicted figures in Roman sculpture and was revered throughout parts of the Roman Empire.