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Fragment of the enriched abacus of a Corinthian or Composite capital
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Fragment of the enriched abacus of a Corinthian or Composite capital
193-235 AD
Severan
Severan
Luna marble
Height: 21cm
Width: 46cm
Width: 46cm
Museum number: M92
Vermeule catalogue number: Vermeule 50
On display: Museum Corridor - outside the Picture Room
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
Similar in all details to Soane M50 (Vermeule 49). The slight variation in execution of the acanthus leaves would indicate that certainly if not the same capital, this fragment belonged to a pair from the same building.
The anthemion-acanthus carving of these two examples is imitated from the Flavian period but, not well enough cut to be late First Century, must definitely be placed in the period of the Severan period - when the cycle of Domitian's decorative enrichment was revived in Rome on the Palatine, in the Baths of Caracalla, and in the Forum. There are a number of close parallels among the marble fragments in the Basilica Julia (in the Forum Romanum, Rome) which come from a nearby building in the Forum.
The development of decorative enrichment is considered by R. Hauglid1, in a summary of past studies of acanthus enrichment used in Corinthian capitals, palmette and anthemion motives; and a discussion of the Greek application of enrichment to architectural, funerary, and decorative uses.
1 R. Hauglid, 'The Greek Acanthus Problems of Origin', Acta Archaeologica, Copenhagen, pp. 93 ff.
The anthemion-acanthus carving of these two examples is imitated from the Flavian period but, not well enough cut to be late First Century, must definitely be placed in the period of the Severan period - when the cycle of Domitian's decorative enrichment was revived in Rome on the Palatine, in the Baths of Caracalla, and in the Forum. There are a number of close parallels among the marble fragments in the Basilica Julia (in the Forum Romanum, Rome) which come from a nearby building in the Forum.
The development of decorative enrichment is considered by R. Hauglid1, in a summary of past studies of acanthus enrichment used in Corinthian capitals, palmette and anthemion motives; and a discussion of the Greek application of enrichment to architectural, funerary, and decorative uses.
1 R. Hauglid, 'The Greek Acanthus Problems of Origin', Acta Archaeologica, Copenhagen, pp. 93 ff.
Provenance
Unrecorded.
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