mail:
Bill Thayer |
![]() Help |
![]() Up |
![]() Home |
||
![]() |
The monument is in fact not an arch; but built by bankers who could afford it, it is made of solid marble: the brick you see is a later repair.
Artistically, well, opinions differ: Platner says "the whole exterior surface is adorned either with coarse decorative sculpture or reliefs representing sacrificial scenes". My take on it is rather the reverse: the garlands and ornamental work are rather good, but the reliefs are lumpy and unattractive. This monument reminds me more of a decorated ivory casket, or of an uninspired painting in a very nice frame.
I think the reliefs were better when new; the sculptural effect must have depended on a contrast between the polished surfaces of the reliefs and the incised patterns of the "frame"; the erosion of the relatively soft marble has brought out the sculpture's intrinsic weakness and lack of character.
→ Not quite all marble: the base is travertine, the tough structural material in the ancient city. Notice the difference in color and roughness.
Images with borders lead to more information.
|
||||||
UP TO: |
![]() Arch of the Argentarii |
![]() Rome |
![]() Roman Gazetteer |
![]() LacusCurtius |
![]() Home |
|
A page or image on this site is in the public domain ONLY if its URL has a total of one *asterisk. If the URL has two **asterisks, the item is copyright someone else, and used by permission or fair use. If the URL has none the item is © Bill Thayer. See my copyright page for details and contact information. |
Page updated: 23 Jan 00