Cast of a Corinthian capital with top of fluted column, Late 18th century/early 19th century

From: Temple of Vesta, Tivoli

RA Collection: Art

On free display in The Dorfman Architecture Court

The cast is taken from a column capital of the Round Temple at Tivoli. This elegant round Temple was converted to a church and still stands today. Careful measured drawings of the temple were first published at the end of the 17th century and the temple was much admired in the 18th and 19th centuries. It is called the Temple of Vesta because of its shape as all temples honouring Vesta were in the round.

In the sale catalogue of Thomas Lawrence's plaster casts, which were acquired by the Royal Academy, entry number 23 records under the heading Temple of Vesta Tivoli,'One quarter of the Capital of "D"'. Interestingly this cast is actually one of two capitals from the Temple now in the collection of the Royal Academy, the other being 11/2885. The explanation may be that the Academy already had some similar casts from Lawrence, a former President.