The Capitoline Museums, dated 1471, are a group of art and archaeological museums designed by Michelangelo on top of the Capitoline Hill in Rome, Italy. It’s the world’s oldest national museums, the “treasure box” full of art masterpieces of ancient Roman sculptures, collections of medieval and Renaissance art, and other artifacts. Today I share the photos of masterpieces I have photographed in Musei Capitolini:
- The Statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius. It is a copy in the photo, the original being housed inside the Capitoline Museums (where photography is prohibited). Many Roman statues were destroyed on the orders of Christian Church authorities in the Middle Ages; this statue was preserved in the erroneous belief that it depicted the Emperor Constantine, who made Christianity the official state religion of the Roman empire.
- The Statue of Capitoline Venus (Venere Capitolina), a sensual yet demure portrayal of the nude goddess. A sculpture, of slightly larger than life size dimensions, was found near Basilica of San Vitale around 1666-1670.
- The Capitoline Wolf, a bronze sculpture of the She-wolf Lupa suckling twin infants Romulus and Remus, inspired by the legend of the founding of Rome. The Capitoline Wolf has been housed since 1471 in the Palazzo dei Conservatori on the Campidoglio (the ancient Capitoline Hill).
- The Head, Hand and Foot of a 12 meters (36 foot) high colossal Statue of Constantine that originally stood in the Basilica di Massenzio in the Roman Forum.
- The Spinario, Boy with Thorn, also called Fedele (Fedelino), is a Greco-Roman Hellenistic bronze sculpture of a boy withdrawing a thorn from the sole of his foot.
- Madonna in glory with Saints Peter and Paul, painting by Marcello Venusti.
- Madonna and child with angels, fresco by Andrea d’Assisi.
Click on image to view full size.
The Michelangelo’s Staircase to The Capitoline Museums
The Statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius
The Capitoline Wolf
Madonna in Glory with Saints Peter and Paul and Madonna and Child with Angels (Left)
The Statue of Capitoline Venus
The Head of the Statue of Constantine
The Spinario
The Busts in The Capitoline Museums
Fontana del Marforio
Masterpieces From the Capitoline Museums
Masterpieces From the Capitoline Museums
Masterpieces From the Capitoline Museums
Masterpieces From the Capitoline Museums
Masterpieces From the Capitoline Museums
The capitoline wolf is my favourite!
As an italian, I studied her legend in school, and use to fantasize on her and Romolo and Remo and the other 7 Rome’s kings (which, I don’t know if you guys know, almost all italians can recite by memory) :)
a Blonde around the World recently posted..FROM MALIBU TO LAS VEGAS
1. Romulus
2. Numa Pompilius
3. Tullus Hostilius
4. Ancus Marcius
5. Tarquinius Priscus
6. Servius Tullius
7. Tarquinius Superbus
Life is easy with Google [wink]
Memographer recently posted..Untitled Captures From Trip to Rome, Italy
Nice ancient/classical art history survey – the head of Constantine is always a favorite
Maria Falvey recently posted..Haiku – Beneath an Arctic Sunset
Thanks, Maria! My favorite part of the statue of Constantine is his hand, not pictured here. Maybe in another post [wink]
Memographer recently posted..The Colosseum, Coliseum, Colosseo, and Flavius
Alex….love them all!
Corinne recently posted..Finding the Best Hawker Centers in Singapore
Thanks, Corinne!
Memographer recently posted..The Gothic Gargoyles of Notre Dame de Paris
The Statue of Emperor Marcus Aurelius was my favorite, Memographer. I liked how you have the building in the background. It’s almost like I can transform it into real life those many years back real time :)
Mike recently posted..Phoenix And I Got 86ed From The Great Reno Balloon Races
Thank you, Mike! Rome is a great photography place. Whatever you shoot, there is always a nice background behind it [wink]
I agree, the statue of Marcus Aurelius is very impressive.
Two interesting (american) facts about the statue –
1. A replica of the statue has been located on the campus of Brown University in the United States since 1908. The statue was formerly clad in gold. An old local myth says that the statue will turn gold again on the Judgement Day.
2. Allegedly the Equestrian Statue of King George III of England which stood in New York City’s Bowling Green until 1776 when it was thrown down and the lead turned into musket balls for George Washington’s army was based upon the Equestrian Statue of Marcus Aurelius.
Memographer recently posted..Musei Capitolini. Roma, Italy
Very much enjoyed. I particularly liked The Spinario.
Erin recently posted..High Line Park: The Ultimate in NYC’s FREE Public & Street Art!
Thanks for stopping by, Erin. I agree on The Spinario. This photo is taken from “unusual” for this statue angle. I’ll post another “traditional” shot later this month. Stay tuned [wink]
Memographer recently posted..The Colosseum, Coliseum, Colosseo, and Flavius