Sujet

Cast of front panel of sarcophagus with griffins, late 18th century-early 19th century. Creator: Unknown.

Légende

Cast of front panel of sarcophagus with griffins, late 18th century-early 19th century. Cast of the front of the chest of a sarcophagus, or stone coffin, now in the Galleria Lapidaria of the Vatican Museums. The sarcophagus panel shows two griffins who face each other and flank an acanthus calyx. At the corners of the sarcophagus are lit candelabra. The griffin was an animal who would protect the monument and the memory of the dead. It was a popular motif on tomb monuments of all types in the Roman period. The candelabra are both ceremonial furniture and references to light in the dark. The sarcophagus is unusual in showing two griffins on the front panel. The cast was from the collection of Thomas Lawrence which was sold on 10 May 1830.

Date

1775

Crédit

Photo12/Heritage Images/Royal Academy of Arts, London

Notre référence

HRM26A35_006

Model release

NA

Property release

NA

Licence

Droits gérés

Format disponible

49.9Mo (6.4Mo) / 56.0cm x 22.3cm / 6613 x 2638 (300dpi)

Mots clés

nature leaves Italy building architecture plant plants arts country Rome shape leaf sculpture art wings color decoration decorative death Classical relief Roman location century burial artefact concept mythology roman mythology cast mould griffon decorated artifact frieze mold Plaster Cast Colour mythical creature bas relief bas-relief griffin griffins gryphon gryphons 18th century Ancient Roman Ancient Rome Eighteenth Century sarcophagi sarcophagus 2nd century acanthus acanthus leaf mythical beast winged figure sculpture Unknown plaster mythical creatures acanthus leaves mythical beasts mythological creature Royal Academy of Arts