Sat 03 Jul 2021
CET 07:55

The Torlonia Marbles – in Pictures (Part 1)

by Adrian Liberto

1 Seated Philosopher — This sculpture of a seated philosopher formally belonged to the Cesarini collection and is known as the Cesarini Chrysippus (Greek marble: 1^st Century CE).

2 Apollo — Apollo holding the skin of the satyr Marsyas after having skinned him alive. One of the more popular versions of the story relates how Marsyas had challenged the god to a musical contest that was to be judged by the Muses. The winner would have had the right to do as he pleased with the loser and when Apollo won (in some versions via a ruse) he chose to flay Marsyas for having dared challenge a god. The statue from the Giustiniani collection may have been very different in its original form and was restored extensively and with much imagination. (1^st century CE)

3 Marsyas — Marsyas after having been flayed by Apollo. His flute is visible on the ground (Apollo played his lyre during the contest), while his features portray a certain rawness. This too was extensively restored according to the imagination of the restorer as the original consisted mostly of a bare torso. (1st-2nd century CE with 16th century additions).

5 Sarcophagus — Sarcophagus with the labours of Hercules (Asian marble: c. 170 CE)

6 Warrior — Another extensively restored sculpture from the Giustiniani collection. The warrior was reconstructed from “the pelvis with the right leg up to the knee and the joint of the left leg…” (2^nd century CE).

7 Three Figue Relief — Relief with Hercules, Theseus and Pirithous: a 1^st century BCE copy of a 5^th century original.

8 Satyr — Satyr: a 1^st century CE copy of a 2^nd century BCE type called “Invitation to Dance”.

9 Drunken Satyr — Drunken Satyr: copy of the Herculaneum Type from the Giustiniani collection (1^st century CE).

10 Torlonia Vase Detail — Torlonia Vase: detail of Bacchic Symposium (Pentelic marble: late 2^nd -early 1^st century BCE)

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