Cast of front and side of an un-inscribed cinerarium

From: Vatican Museums (Vatican City)

RA Collection: Art

The cast reproduces a cinerarium or cinerary urn of the first half of the first century AD. It is now in the Vatican, in the Galleria dei Candelabri, inv. 2383 (H: 23, W: 33, D: 27.5).

The name of the deceased was probably painted on the panel. The front and sides show motifs typical of Roman funerary art. The natural bounty and festivity of the garland suggest both a special sacred moment and one that passes. The torch at the back also indicates a special occasion and the darkness of the underworld. The hungry birds, representatives of oblivious and needy nature, are also commonplace.

This cast was probably part of the collection of Thomas Lawrence sold at auction on 10 May 1830 and acquired by the Royal Academy.

Object details

Title

Cast of front and side of an un-inscribed cinerarium

From

Vatican Museums (Vatican City)

Object type

Cast Sculpture

Medium

Plaster cast, late 18th or early 19th century

Dimensions

320 mm x 470 mm x 260 mm

Collection

Royal Academy of Arts

Object number

04/2841

Acquisition

Purchased from Sir Thomas Lawrence PRA in 1830

Explore art works, paint-smeared palettes, scribbled letters and more...
Artists and architects have run the RA for 250 years.
Our Collection is a record of them.

Start exploring

Your device is not optimal for everything we want to show...