225: Tuesday, August 24

Sala della Lupa

1) The piece of art that stood out to me the most this week was Sala della Lupa, the She-Wolf of Rome.

2) The She-Wolf of Rome is located in the Conservator’s Apartment in the Capitoline Museum

3) The statue stands 75 cm high and is 114 cm long, and it is made of bronze.

4) Historical

As an ancient city, it may often seem like Rome has been around forever, without ever having a beginning. However, Rome’s history originates from the legend of Romulus and Remus, famously represented by Sala della Lupa, or the statue of the She-Wolf. Consequently, the She-Wolf has become a symbol of Rome. I find the history of this statue very interesting, because there are two ways to look at it.

First, I like to consider the details of the actual statue, that suggest when the statue was created and who made it. Based on research, there are several clues that lead us to believe the statue was created during the Etruscan times. According to our tour guide, Barbara, the statue was created sometime around the 5th century B.C. or later, which was during the Etruscan time period. Additionally, the Etruscans often build statues out of bronze, which is the material used to create the She-Wolf. Second, while the statue has several realistic details, it is also simplified in some aspects with a geometric style. For example, the hair of the wolf was made designed in a uniform, spiral pattern, which is unrealistic. This geometric style is very characteristic of Greek art, which greatly influenced Roman art during the Etruscan time (http://www.oldandsold.com/articles08/sculpture-12.shtml). The statues of Romulus and Remus, shown underneath the wolf, were added at a much later time, so it is hard to judge the original history based on them.

A second way to look at the history of the statue is to contemplate the actual story that influenced the artist to create it. The legend says that Romulus and his twin brother Remus were thrown into the Tiber River when they were babies so that they would not ever have the chance to become kings. However, the two boys were rescued and kept from starving by a she-wolf. Sometime later they were discovered and raised by a shepherd. Romulus then went on to found Rome and become its first king. This story has true significance to the history of Rome, and the she-wolf is and will forever be a symbol of the city. (http://www.historyonthenet.com/Romans/legend_of_rome.htm) I find it impressive that a legend or myth has left such an impact on the ancient history of Rome.

The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius

1) My second chosen piece of art for this week is the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius.

2) There are two copies of this statue, and the original is located inside the Capitoline Musuem, while the replica is located outside the museum in the Piazza del Campidoglio.

3) The statue is 3.5 meters tall and is made of bronze.

4) Iconology

In the very center of Rome lies the Capitoline Hill, which holds some of the city’s most famous and historical sculptures. Upon cresting the hill, one of these sculptures immediately enters into view—the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius. However, this statue is just a replica of the actual sculpture which lies within the Capitoline Museum. After seeing both of these sculptures, it becomes evident that the artist was trying to tell a story. There is a lot of representation found within the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius, specifically in the original.

During the tour of the museum, our tour guide gave us a little background of the situation represented by the statue. First of all, the emperor was riding in on his horse from battle. Knowing this makes it easier to interpret the body language displayed in the art. Even though Aurelius just came from war, he was not carrying any weapon. This suggests that he is coming into the city, where weapons are forbidden. The placement of his hands gives us a deeper look into the situation. While his left hand is placed on the once present reins, his right hand is up in the air, giving a sign of peace to the city. The horse Aurelius is riding also tells a story with its body position. The horse is raising one of his legs into the air. Our tour guide explained that the sculptor was most likely sign of peace indicates that he has no intention of killing the prisoner. I believe that the sculptor was making every effort to represent Aurelius as a peaceful and just ruler, so that for thousands of years to come people would respect the emperor. As an added detail, the artist covered the bronze statue in a thin layer of gold, indicating that Aurelius was of great importance to the city, and to history in general. To this day we know that gods and emperors were represented with gold, and it is immediately evident that Aurelius was a really important person of that time. The Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius has many symbols and details that I find it exhilarating to discover what everything represents. The stories that art and sculptures tell are complex and specific, and the statue of Aurelius is no exception.

**Info from our tour of the Capitoline Museum