Late Roman Marble Capitol - Corinthian

Roman, later Imperial period, ca. 3rd to 5th century CE. A beautifully-preserved example of a marble column capital, with a decorative motif of flowers, curlicues, volutes, leaves, and, at the base, downwardly curling leaves. Delicate swirls and folds speak to the skill of the artisan who made the piece, which would have adorned a luxurious building of monument of Classical style. The Corinthian order is the most ornate of the orders (as opposed to the earlier Doric and Ionic) boasting slender fluted columns topped by elaborate capitals with acanthus leaves and scrolled volutes like this example. The famous Roman architect Vitruvius observed that the lavish Corinthian design "was produced out of the two other orders." Vitruvius described the Corinthian column as "an imitation of the slenderness of a maiden; for the outlines and limbs of maidens, being more slender on account of their tender years, admit of prettier effects in the way of adornment." Size: 17.15" L x 15.5" W x 10.25" H (43.6 cm x 39.4 cm x 26 cm)

Provenance: private Dallas, Texas, USA collection

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#146671
Condition Report: Surface is weathered, with some discoloration, especially on the upper side, from exposure to the elements. Losses from peripheries as shown. Much of the form is still clear.