Italian, 18th century

Ulpia Marciana (c. 48 – 112 CE) was a Roman noblewoman, elder sister of Emperor Trajan, and the first sister of a reigning emperor to be honored with the title Augusta. Widowed early, she lived with her brother and his wife, Empress Plotina. Marciana was deified upon her death, and two cities—Marcianopolis and Colonia Marciana Ulpia Traiana Thamugadi—were founded in her honor. She was the grandmother of Empress Vibia Sabina, the wife of Emperor Hadrian.

An ancient intaglio portrait of Marciana from the Marlborough collection is housed in the Museum of Fine Arts Boston (inv. no. 99.111).