Rambles in Rome: An Archæological and Historical Guide to the Museums, Galleries, Villas, Churches, and Antiquities of Rome and the CampagnaForbes, S. Russell
History
Rambles in Rome: An Archæological and Historical Guide to the Museums, Galleries, Villas, Churches, and Antiquities of Rome and the Campagna
Forbes, S. Russell
Art -- Rome; Rome (Italy) -- Guidebooks; Rome -- Antiquities
Formed by Gregory XVI. from Egypt, and from Egyptian remains dispersed
in the several museums of Rome. It comprises a hall of monuments, hall
of the imitations executed by Roman and Greek artists, and several
cabinets containing many interesting objects.
_Ascending the stairs we reach, on the right_,
THE HALL OF THE BIGA,
adorned with several beautiful works of ancient art, the principal of
which is the Biga or chariot, only the body of which is ancient. The
Biga for a long time served as an episcopal throne in the Church of S.
Mark in Rome. The torso of the right horse was a gift of Prince
Borghese; the additions and restorations are by Franzoni. No. 611,
Alcibiades, after Nycerates; 615, Discobolus, after Naukides; 616,
Phocion; 618, Discobolus, after Myron. _The long corridor is called_
THE GALLERY OF THE CANDELABRA,
and is divided into six compartments, containing cups, vases,
sarcophagi, statues, candelabra, &c. It has recently been restored by
Leo XIII., the floors and ceilings being masterpieces of modern art.
The most important objects of interest are: 19, a Child Playing at
_Capita et Navim_ (heads or tails); 74, Faun Extracting a Thorn from a
Satyr's Foot; 81, Diana of Ephesus--her sixteen breasts signify the
sixteen cubits at which the Nile overflows; the various half figures
of sphinxes, lions, bulls, stags, bees, and flowers are her attributes
as the nurse of all things living; the disk ornament refers to the
sun; the four seasons, the signs of the zodiac, and a necklace of
acorns adorn her neck: the statue was found at Hadrian's Villa. 88,
Mercury seated amidst his Symbols; 134_a_, a Well Head; 134_c_, statue
of the Sabine God Semoni Sanco, found in 1879 on the slopes of the
Quirinal Hill, presented by Leo XIII.; 134_b_, Well Head; 135, seated
statuette of Sophocles; 177, an Old Fisherman; 183, Saturn (rare);
184, Personification of Antioch on the Orontes, by Eutychides; 222, a
Spartan Virgin Racer, earlier art than that of Phidias; 231, Actor,
with mask; 257, Ganymede and the Eagle. _Returning_--269, a Warrior;
194, Child and Swan; 204, sarcophagus representing Diana and Apollo
Shooting at the Niobides; 149_a_, Somnus (Sleep); 148, a Faun Carrying
the Infant Bacchus; 118_a_, the Eagle carrying off Ganymede, a
replica of the bronze original, by Leochares; 112, sarcophagus
illustrating the Story of Protesilaus and Laodamia. This should be
compared with the relief, No. 269, in the Gallery of Statues. On the
sides are the myths of Ixion, Sisiphus, and Tantalus. 52, a Drunken
Faun, in green basalt.
THE GALLERY OF TAPESTRIES
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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