Relief with Nikai leading a bull to the sacrificial altar
Pentelic marble.
First half of the 2nd cent. CE.
Inv. No. 330.Florence, Uffizi GalleryPhoto by Ilya Shurygin

Relief with Nikai leading a bull to the sacrificial altar.

Pentelic marble.
First half of the 2nd cent. CE.
Inv. No. 330.

Florence, Uffizi Gallery
(Firenze, Galleria degli Uffizi).

Private collection, Medici.
Origin:
Formerly in Rome, in the Palazzo Valle-Capranica, then in the Villa Medici. Entered the Uffizi in 1783.
Description:

Italiano Rilievo con Nikai che conducono un toro al sacrificio

Prima metà del II secolo d. C.
Marmo pentelico
Inv. 1914 n. 330
Provenienza: già a Roma in Palazzo Valle-Capranica, poi a Villa Medici; in Galleria dal 1783.

Il rilievo, riferibile a una bottega neoattica, replica modelli derivati dai fregi della balaustra scolpita con Nikai che circondava il Tempio di Atena Nike, uno dei principali monumenti dell’Acropoli di Atene, costruito a partire dal 420 a. C. circa per celebrare la vittoria contro i Persiani. I marmi ateniesi, vertice dello stile fiorito che trovò in Callimaco il suo massimo esponente, esercitarono una notevole influenza sulle arti minori contemporanee, come pure sull’arte romana.

English Relief with Nikai Leading a Bull to the Sacrificial Altar

First half of the 2nd century AD
Pentelic marble
Inv. 1914 n. 330
Provenance: formerly in Rome, in the Palazzo Valle-Capranica, then in the Villa Medici; entered the Uffizi in 1783.

This relief, product of a neo-Attic workshop, reproduces models based on the friezes on the balustrade carved with Nikai that surrounded the Temple of Athena Nike. Work began on the temple, one of the most important monuments on the Acropolis in Athens, in around 420 BC to celebrate the victory over the Persians. These Athenian marble sculptures, representing the peak of the ornate style of which Callimachus was unquestionably the greatest master, had a considerable influence on the minor arts of the time and subsequently also on Roman art.

Credits:
© 2019. Photo: Ilya Shurygin.
Info: the museum annotation.
Keywords: γλυπτική sculptura sculpture sculptural scultura skulptur greek greca greco greche griechische griechisches grecque grecquesё ανακούφιση relief rilievo ελληνική μυθολογία mythologia graeca mythology mitologia mythologie nίκη nice nike winged goddess dea alata niche geflügelte göttin déesse ailée niké female dress clothes clothing garment abbigliamento femminile damenbekleidung vêtements pour femmes γυναικεία ρούχα marmor pentelicum pentelic marble marmo pentelico pentelischer marbre pentelique πεντελικό μάρμαρο πεντελικὴ μάρμαρος candelabrum candelabra candelabro armleuchter kandelaber candélabre μανουάλι from the medici collection collezione sammlung neo-attic atticizing work neoatticismo taurus bull toro stier taureau βόδι ταύρος 465 inv no 330