An imposing work of extraordinary artistry, this marble bust captures the visage of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king who is one of the most legendary figures in history. Crowned King of Macedonia at the age of nineteen, he conquered the greatest empire of the ancient world. Two millennia after his death, the story of the illustrious ruler remains just as compelling. This larger-than-life sculpture, crafted in white marble, captures all of the commanding poignancy of the great Alexander, bringing this colossal figure vividly to life.

The bust was influenced by one of the great masterpieces of Hellenistic sculpture, a portrait of Alexander from 330 BC attributed to Lysippos. The bust, immortalized by Plutarch, has since been lost, though two extant Roman copies remain today: one in the Louvre (Paris) and the other in the Capitoline Museum (Rome). The present piece is clearly based on the latter.

What makes this sculpture so exceptional is not only its scale, but also the compelling beauty and strength of its subject. Described by Arrian as a "strong, handsome commander with one eye dark as the night and one blue as the sky," the image of the Macedonian king has enthralled artists for centuries. The Roman bust at the Capitoline Museum, and this present bust by extension, is one of the most recognizable sculptural portraits of the legendary Alexander. His youthful face, beautifully polished skin and leonine hair are all consistent with the classical ideals of beauty that are so often associated with this historic great.

The present 18th-century bust is one of a handful from the era that was modeled after the Roman original. Another by the neoclassical sculptor Carlo Albacini is currently in the collection of the Walker Art Gallery (Liverpool).