Ara Casali - Vatican

Description

A Roman marble altar dedicated by Ti. Claudius Faventinus, now in the Vatican Museum. The dedicatory inscription is framed with a wreath of oak leaves and acorns. In the top right the Roman Vulcan (Greek - Hephaistos) with his blacksmith's tongs cradled in fis left arm, looks rather dejectedly upon a scene of his wife, Venus, who has been caught in bed with her lover Mars. The piece was a gift to Pope Pius VI by Antonio Casali in 1772. H:68cm; W: 38cm; D: 33cm. Inscription: TI CLAVDIVS FAVENTINVS D.D.