Printed from Woolley & Wallis

Description

TWO ITALIAN GIALLO ANTICO GRAND TOUR MODELS OF TEMPLES
AFTER THE ANTIQUE, ROME, SECOND HALF 19TH CENTURY

comprising: the Temple of Vespasion and Titus, inscribed 'Estituer' and the Temple of Castor and Pollux, each on a black marble base (2)

46cm high, 22cm wide and 45.5cm high, 15.5cm wide

Catalogue Note

These models depict two of the most celebrated ancient monuments in the Roman Forum: the Temple of Vespasian and Titus and the Temple of Castor and Pollux. By the eighteenth century, these ruins had become essential sights for travellers undertaking the Grand Tour, admired as evocative remnants of Rome's Imperial past. The three surviving Corinthian columns of each temple formed a dramatic landmark that attracted artists, antiquarians, and collectors alike.

The Temple of Castor and Pollux, originally dedicated in 484 BCE, commemorated the legendary twin sons of Jupiter and played an important role in Roman political and civic life. Nearby, the Temple of Vespasian and Titus was erected in the late first century CE to honour the deified emperors Vespasian and Titus. Together, the monuments embodied the longevity and grandeur of Roman civilisation.

Images of these ruins were widely circulated through paintings, prints, and souvenirs purchased by Grand Tour travellers. Such representations combined archaeological interest with picturesque appeal, reflecting contemporary fascination with the classical world and the enduring legacy of ancient Rome.