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  • image M458

Section of an enriched Roman shaft

117-138 AD
Probably Hadrianic

Proconnesian marble

Height: 34cm
Diameter: 20cm

Museum number: M458

Vermeule catalogue number: Vermeule 134help-vermeule-catalogue-number

On display: Sepulchral Chamber
All spaces are in No. 13 Lincoln's Inn Fields unless identified as in No. 12, Soane's first house. For tours https://www.soane.org/your-visit

Curatorial note

This shaft fragment is enriched in a manner similar to the two previous examples; the style of the clusters of berries is slightly closer to Soane M1016 (Vermeule 132) in size and arrangement, but this is a minor variation which does not preclude the three pieces from having belonged to the same series of shafts. In this case also, the main stems cross near the dressed bottom edge1.

Since many of the Soane fragments come from Roman imperial decorative sculptures, one wishing to secure a picture of these fragments, etc. in their proper settings or to examine more beautiful parallels should study the large plates in Pierre Gusman, in L'Art Décoratif de Rome. It should be borne in mind, however, that many of the works he reproduces are heavily restored and that some represent as much the taste of the era in which Soane collected as the period they sought to reproduce.

1 For a photograph of a more complete example of a shaft with this type decoration, see P. Gusman, L'Art décoratif de Rome de la fin de la république au IV siècle, 2 vols, Paris, 1910, Vol. I, pl. 55.

Provenance help-art-provenance

Shown (?) in Drawing of 1813.1.


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