A Long-Hidden Collection of Ancient Sculpture Is Making Its Grand Debut

Discussion in 'Ancient Coins' started by Salaethus, Jan 22, 2020.

  1. Salaethus

    Salaethus Well-Known Member

    Here's two articles about the Torlonia Collection that I thought the antiquiphiles here would appreciate. It is exciting news that this storied collection will go on public display for the first time ever in Rome this coming March, and later will go on a worldwide tour to 96 different museums.

    Tidbit from the NYTimes article:

    ROME — Several of this city’s finest museums bear the names of the aristocratic families who once built majestic palazzi and stuffed them full of priceless art: the Borghese, the Barberini, the Doria Pamphilj, and more still.

    But one of the world’s most precious private collections — that of the Torlonia family — has remained out of bounds, unseen by the public and known to most scholars only through its catalog, published in the late 19th century. It includes scores of busts and a veritable who’s who of classical mythology, dating from the fifth century B.C. to the fourth century A.D. Eventually the collection would swell to 620 statues depicting Greek and Roman gods, goddesses and mythical heroes, as well as portraits of Roman emperors. The catalog’s author, Pietro Ercole Visconti, described the sculptures as “an immense treasure of erudition and art, amassed in silence over the course of many, many years.”


    https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/28/arts/design/torlonia-collection-rome-statues.html

    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smar...t-sculpture-making-its-grand-debut-180974010/

    Some of the astonishing pictures of store rooms full of Roman busts in plastic bags made me think of this forum. Which emperors can we identify? Does anyone have any plans to see the collection in person?
    torlonia-collection-rome-museum.jpg

    merlin_163291620_81423803-d6d1-414f-bea8-b951b5e450c7-superJumbo.jpg
    tortonia.png
     
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  3. SeptimusT

    SeptimusT Well-Known Member

    I call a Hadrian, a Verus, and an Aurelius... is that Cato the Elder behind Hadrian in the first one?

    EDIT: Just noticed Caracalla hiding... Where's Wally?
     
    Last edited: Jan 22, 2020
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  4. ancient coin hunter

    ancient coin hunter 3rd Century Usurper

    I agree with @SeptimusT - those three were the first I noticed. Maybe there is a Decius back there as well.
     
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  5. Archilochus

    Archilochus Active Member

    I'll go well out of my way to see these. Looking forward to when they publish the tour destinations.
     
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