DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.15095#0089
PLATE XXVIIL
A statue of a female, smaller than life, and seated on the ground;
her attitude is very graceful. She is covered with close drapery,
which has fallen from the left shoulder, and consequently leaves
that part of her form exposed. Her right hand is advanced forward,
while the weight of her body is supported by her left arm, on which
she leans. Upon the plinth is a bow, the extremities of which are
decorated with the heads of griffins; and from this symbol we are
lead to conjecture that the figure is intended to represent one of the
nymphs of Diana, resting herself after the fatigues of the chace.
The head and left shoulder, as well as both the feet, and the right
hand, are modern.
This elegant statue, and one similar to it, were found, in the year
1766, near the Salacian Gate of Rome, in the Villa Verospi, which
is supposed to have been the site of the magnificent gardens of
Sallust. In the spot where they were discovered, there appeared
the remains of a fountain in the form of a crescent, composed of
very rich marbles and mosaics, and it is not improbable that these
statues formed a part of the decorations of that fountain.
Two other repetitions of this figure are known, namely, one
which was in the Villa Borghese,(i) and another which was in the
Colonna Palace.(2) It is remarkable that in all these figures the
original head is wanting, as well as the right hand, the action of
which, it is, consequently, not possible to ascertain. The statue which
was preserved in the Villa Borghese, and also that which was in
the Colonna Palace, are without the ancient plinth. These figures,
therefore, having lost their characteristic symbol, the bow, have
been misconceived by the artists who restored them. The former
1 Sculture del Palazzo della Villa Borghese, Part n. Stanza iv. no. II.
2 Ficoroni, I Tali, ed altri Strumenti Lusori degli Antichi Romani, pag. 148. We
have reason to think that this marble is now in the collection of the King of Prussia.
A statue of a female, smaller than life, and seated on the ground;
her attitude is very graceful. She is covered with close drapery,
which has fallen from the left shoulder, and consequently leaves
that part of her form exposed. Her right hand is advanced forward,
while the weight of her body is supported by her left arm, on which
she leans. Upon the plinth is a bow, the extremities of which are
decorated with the heads of griffins; and from this symbol we are
lead to conjecture that the figure is intended to represent one of the
nymphs of Diana, resting herself after the fatigues of the chace.
The head and left shoulder, as well as both the feet, and the right
hand, are modern.
This elegant statue, and one similar to it, were found, in the year
1766, near the Salacian Gate of Rome, in the Villa Verospi, which
is supposed to have been the site of the magnificent gardens of
Sallust. In the spot where they were discovered, there appeared
the remains of a fountain in the form of a crescent, composed of
very rich marbles and mosaics, and it is not improbable that these
statues formed a part of the decorations of that fountain.
Two other repetitions of this figure are known, namely, one
which was in the Villa Borghese,(i) and another which was in the
Colonna Palace.(2) It is remarkable that in all these figures the
original head is wanting, as well as the right hand, the action of
which, it is, consequently, not possible to ascertain. The statue which
was preserved in the Villa Borghese, and also that which was in
the Colonna Palace, are without the ancient plinth. These figures,
therefore, having lost their characteristic symbol, the bow, have
been misconceived by the artists who restored them. The former
1 Sculture del Palazzo della Villa Borghese, Part n. Stanza iv. no. II.
2 Ficoroni, I Tali, ed altri Strumenti Lusori degli Antichi Romani, pag. 148. We
have reason to think that this marble is now in the collection of the King of Prussia.