DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.37251#0074
42
SALA DEI CAPITANI 4, 5
The cuirass at lower edge ends in a beading and scroll pattern, the
ten decorated tabs below being as follows : centre, chimaera head; on
each side of it Pan mask, on either side again Medusa mask; series
completed on 1. by head of lioness holding palmette in mouth, and pal-
mette; on r. by lion's head, winged Medusa head, and Medusa mask.
In centre of cuirass, above a scroll pattern and reversed palmette, are two
winged Victories confronting each other ; between them a tree. Of that
on 1. all except feet and lower part of drapery is as if hidden by the
cloak of the statue; that on r. extends her 1. arm to centre and holds an
axe in her lowered r.
The boots, which expose the toes, have crossed laces tied in a bow
and are ornamented at sides with palmettes, at top with panther mask
hanked by claws.
The work is of the first century A. D. by comparison with the similar
statues in the Lateran(Helbig% 1166, 1171); cf. Museo Chiaramonti 635
(Amelung, FhA CA/. i, pi. 79).
Re-erected, with modern head, in 1593 ; the Duke of Parma died in
the previous year. The tradition quoted by Guattani (AD772. H72A, vol. i,
p. 62, n. 1), that the 'gruppo colossale' of Alessandro Farnese was made
from one of the column-bases of the Basilica Maxentiana, if it refers, to
this statue, is incorrect (see Addenda).
Inv. 1627.
Rodocanachi, p. 112.
5. ROMAN MILITARY STATUE WITH HEAD OF FRANCESCO
ALDOBRANDINI (pi. 7).
H. (excl. plinth and head), 1.71 m. ; plinth (average), -it m. Parian marble. Re-
stored : head and neck, r. arm from edge of cuirass, incl. attribute. Worked over in parts.
Whole of antique part except 1. hand and sword is carved from single block of
marble.
NOTE.—Both Amelung and Hekler have in conversation (May 1924) doubted the
antiquity of the body. But if the whole statue is modern, it is hard to explain the
cutting of the arms into the old surface of the support, the re-cutting of rosettes into
stars on the tabs, the weathering and smoothing to which parts of the body have been
subjected, the use of Luna marble for the head and of Parian for the body, and the close
resemblance, unparalleled in Renaissance statues of this kind, to the antique works cited
below.
Figure in Roman military dress with weight on r. leg: 1. foot drawn
back and to the side. On the cuirass are two griffins confronting each
other : the czAgKAw is tied over them and the ends tucked through.
Above is a winged Medusa mask in high relief turned slightly to 1. The
nine decorated tabs at lower edge are as follows: centre, star ; on each
side ram's head outwards, on each side again, star; series completed on
r. by an eagle's head and a rosette, on 1. by two rosettes. On these tabs
the eight-rayed stars (which also form part of the Aldobrandini arms
chiselled on the antique support) have probably been adapted from
rosettes. The leather boots with cross-straps have in front panthers'
masks hanked by claws.
Poor work of the second century A. D. It resembles the statue
of Hadrian from the Dictynnaeum near Canea (AA/iA. Ac77^<?77 AAcAr,
June 28, 1924), and that of Antoninus Pius at Dresden (Herrmann,
FAzAr/AHk, No. 383).
Erected (according to the inscription) in 1602.
SALA DEI CAPITANI 4, 5
The cuirass at lower edge ends in a beading and scroll pattern, the
ten decorated tabs below being as follows : centre, chimaera head; on
each side of it Pan mask, on either side again Medusa mask; series
completed on 1. by head of lioness holding palmette in mouth, and pal-
mette; on r. by lion's head, winged Medusa head, and Medusa mask.
In centre of cuirass, above a scroll pattern and reversed palmette, are two
winged Victories confronting each other ; between them a tree. Of that
on 1. all except feet and lower part of drapery is as if hidden by the
cloak of the statue; that on r. extends her 1. arm to centre and holds an
axe in her lowered r.
The boots, which expose the toes, have crossed laces tied in a bow
and are ornamented at sides with palmettes, at top with panther mask
hanked by claws.
The work is of the first century A. D. by comparison with the similar
statues in the Lateran(Helbig% 1166, 1171); cf. Museo Chiaramonti 635
(Amelung, FhA CA/. i, pi. 79).
Re-erected, with modern head, in 1593 ; the Duke of Parma died in
the previous year. The tradition quoted by Guattani (AD772. H72A, vol. i,
p. 62, n. 1), that the 'gruppo colossale' of Alessandro Farnese was made
from one of the column-bases of the Basilica Maxentiana, if it refers, to
this statue, is incorrect (see Addenda).
Inv. 1627.
Rodocanachi, p. 112.
5. ROMAN MILITARY STATUE WITH HEAD OF FRANCESCO
ALDOBRANDINI (pi. 7).
H. (excl. plinth and head), 1.71 m. ; plinth (average), -it m. Parian marble. Re-
stored : head and neck, r. arm from edge of cuirass, incl. attribute. Worked over in parts.
Whole of antique part except 1. hand and sword is carved from single block of
marble.
NOTE.—Both Amelung and Hekler have in conversation (May 1924) doubted the
antiquity of the body. But if the whole statue is modern, it is hard to explain the
cutting of the arms into the old surface of the support, the re-cutting of rosettes into
stars on the tabs, the weathering and smoothing to which parts of the body have been
subjected, the use of Luna marble for the head and of Parian for the body, and the close
resemblance, unparalleled in Renaissance statues of this kind, to the antique works cited
below.
Figure in Roman military dress with weight on r. leg: 1. foot drawn
back and to the side. On the cuirass are two griffins confronting each
other : the czAgKAw is tied over them and the ends tucked through.
Above is a winged Medusa mask in high relief turned slightly to 1. The
nine decorated tabs at lower edge are as follows: centre, star ; on each
side ram's head outwards, on each side again, star; series completed on
r. by an eagle's head and a rosette, on 1. by two rosettes. On these tabs
the eight-rayed stars (which also form part of the Aldobrandini arms
chiselled on the antique support) have probably been adapted from
rosettes. The leather boots with cross-straps have in front panthers'
masks hanked by claws.
Poor work of the second century A. D. It resembles the statue
of Hadrian from the Dictynnaeum near Canea (AA/iA. Ac77^<?77 AAcAr,
June 28, 1924), and that of Antoninus Pius at Dresden (Herrmann,
FAzAr/AHk, No. 383).
Erected (according to the inscription) in 1602.