Lot Essay
The Lansdowne Muse sarcophagus was found along the Via Appia near Rome and was acquired by Lord Shelburne Marquess of Lansdowne from Thomas Jenkins in Rome in 1771.
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CIRCA 3RD CENTURY A.D.
Details
A ROMAN MARBLE FRIEZE FROM A MUSE SARCOPHAGUS
circa 3rd century a.d.
The deceased in the center between Mercury and Minerva, depicted with close-cropped hair, holding a roll in his left hand, looking to his right towards Mercury, the god wearing a petasos and carrying the caduceus, standing with his right foot resting on a pedestal on which stands a comic mask, Minerva clad in a helmet, holding an olive branch in her right hand, a spear in her left, with five Muses to the left: Polyhymnia, Muse of mimic art, leaning on a pillar; Euterpe, Muse of music, holding two flutes; Thalia, Muse of Comedy, walking to the right with a staff in her right hand, a comic mask in the left; Malpomene, Muse of tragedy, leaning on a pedum which rests on an animal's head, a bearded tragic mask in her left arm; and Erato, Muse of lyric poetry or hymns, resting her lyre on a pillar; and four Muses to the right: Clio, Muse of history, with a roll in her hands, a bundle of rolls on the ground to her left; the upper portion of a woman in shallow relief to her right; Terpsichore, Muse of lyric poetry and dance, holding a kithara and a plectrum; Urania, Muse of astronomy, holding a globe and a staff, a comic mask at her feet to her left; and Calliope, Muse of heroic epic, with a diptych, her left foot raised on a low plinth
86 in. (218.4 cm.) long
circa 3rd century a.d.
The deceased in the center between Mercury and Minerva, depicted with close-cropped hair, holding a roll in his left hand, looking to his right towards Mercury, the god wearing a petasos and carrying the caduceus, standing with his right foot resting on a pedestal on which stands a comic mask, Minerva clad in a helmet, holding an olive branch in her right hand, a spear in her left, with five Muses to the left: Polyhymnia, Muse of mimic art, leaning on a pillar; Euterpe, Muse of music, holding two flutes; Thalia, Muse of Comedy, walking to the right with a staff in her right hand, a comic mask in the left; Malpomene, Muse of tragedy, leaning on a pedum which rests on an animal's head, a bearded tragic mask in her left arm; and Erato, Muse of lyric poetry or hymns, resting her lyre on a pillar; and four Muses to the right: Clio, Muse of history, with a roll in her hands, a bundle of rolls on the ground to her left; the upper portion of a woman in shallow relief to her right; Terpsichore, Muse of lyric poetry and dance, holding a kithara and a plectrum; Urania, Muse of astronomy, holding a globe and a staff, a comic mask at her feet to her left; and Calliope, Muse of heroic epic, with a diptych, her left foot raised on a low plinth
86 in. (218.4 cm.) long
Provenance
Lansdowne Collection, London
Collection of Ancient Marbles, Christie's London, 5 March 1930, lot 65
Catalogue of Egyptian, Western Asiatic, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Sotheby's London, 4 December 1972, lot. 121
Collection of Ancient Marbles, Christie's London, 5 March 1930, lot 65
Catalogue of Egyptian, Western Asiatic, Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities, Sotheby's London, 4 December 1972, lot. 121
Literature
Cavaceppi, Raccolt, II, plate 58.1.
Waagen, Treasures of Art in Great Britain, ii, p. 150.
Michaelis, Ancient Marbles in Great Britain, p. 458, no. 75.
Vermeule, "Notes on a New Edition of Michaelis," in no.76.
Wegner, Die Musensarkophage, no. 31b.
Waagen, Treasures of Art in Great Britain, ii, p. 150.
Michaelis, Ancient Marbles in Great Britain, p. 458, no. 75.
Vermeule, "Notes on a New Edition of Michaelis," in no.76.
Wegner, Die Musensarkophage, no. 31b.