The Mithras Relief

1564

Italian 16th Century

Associated Names
Antonio Lafreri

Publisher, Italian, 1512 - 1577

The artwork is a detailed engraving depicting a relief scene with multiple figures. At the center, a prominent male figure is positioned over a bull, with his left knee on the animal's back. He wears a flowing cloak and a cap, extending his right arm to grasp the bull's snout. The bull is positioned horizontally, lying on its side with visible anatomical details. Surrounding the central figures are smaller human and animal figures, including a dog, snake, and scorpion, interacting with the bull. Above, additional figures are depicted in smaller panels, showing varied postures and actions. The composition includes architectural elements like columns and possibly an altar. A decorative border frames the scene, and to the left, there is a column of text. The entire scene is rendered in a monochrome palette, enhancing the intricate details and expressions.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving

  • Credit Line

    The Ahmanson Foundation

  • Dimensions

    plate: 41.2 × 26.8 cm (16 1/4 × 10 9/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    2012.46.1.39

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Rubach, no. 332, state i/v

  • Series Title

    Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae (Mirror of Roman Magnificence)

Associated Artworks

See all 58 artworks

Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae (Mirror of Roman Magnificence)

Antonio Lafreri, Antonio Salamanca, Tommaso Barlacchi, Giacomo Lauro, Étienne Dupérac, Vincenzo Luchino, Jacob Bos, Bartolomeo Faleti, Nicolas Beatrizet, Pedro Perret, Enea Vico, Ferrando Bertelli, Marco Dente, Monogrammist HCB

1544

Balnei Laterani [The Lateran Baptistry]

Italian 16th Century, Antonio Lafreri

1544

The Pantheon

Italian 16th Century, Antonio Lafreri

1553


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Weingarten Monastery, Swabia, 1632 (title page inscription in the NGA "Speculum"). Cistercian Abbey of Notre-Dame du Val-Dieu, Belgium (bookplate: Ex libris Vallis Dei). English export license recording the sale of this volume in 1974 by E.P. Goldschmidt & Co., Ltd., London; Daniel Donahue, Santa Barbara, CA; (Liber Antiquus, Washington, D.C.); purchased 2012 by NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1921

  • Huelsen, Christian. "Das Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae des Antonio Lafreri." Collectanea variae doctrinae Leoni Olschki. Munich: 1921: no. 66

2016

  • Rubach, Birte. Ant. Lafreri Formis Romae: Der Verleger Antonio Lafreri und seine Druckgraphikproduktion. Berlin, 2016.

Inscriptions

Lettered LC: "Antonij Lafrerij Sequani formeis Anno MDLXIIII"
Lettered LC: "Haec vetusta marmorea tabula quae Romae in aedibus Octaviani Zeno prope theatrum Pompeij et campum Florae extat..."

Wikidata ID

Q77259638

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