Cast of section of frieze with vase, griffin, and candelabrum, Late 18th century/early 19th century

From: Forum of Trajan, Rome

RA Collection: Art

On free display in The Dorfman Architecture Court

This cast reproduces a section of a frieze which featured griffins, candelabra, and vases and which was originally part of the Forum of Trajan in Rome (AD 106-112). Sections of the frieze were recorded in situ as early as 1540 (by Antonio San Gallo) and there are three well-known fragments; one found in the Forum in 1929 and two now in the Louvre.

This cast repeats a section of the frieze which was popular in the late 18th and 19th centuries. It appears in drawings and the same exists in London in both the Soane collection and at the Victoria and Albert Museum. This sequence of motifs, namely a vase, griffin and candelabrum no longer exists and this cast must have been a reconstruction which was later disasembled.

The Royal Academy acquired most of its Roman, non-sculptural casts from Thomas Lawrence whose collection went on sale in May of 1830 and was purchased by the Academy. This cast was probably part of that sale.