Marble cinerary urn in the form of a tree stump with leaves and grapes

Roman

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 162

Carved to imitate a tree stump with a cut-off branch on one side and a leafy grape vine climbing the other, this cinerary urn references the wine-god Dionysus and his victory over death. Early Imperial Roman urns frequently imitate other forms and materials. The high relief of the detached branch, leaves, and fruit creates an interplay of light and shade against the textured background of bark.

Marble cinerary urn in the form of a tree stump with leaves and grapes, Marble, Roman

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Marble cinerary urn in the form of a tree stump with leaves and grapes, Marble, Roman
Marble cinerary urn in the form of a tree stump with leaves and grapes, Marble, Roman
Marble cinerary urn in the form of a tree stump with leaves and grapes, Marble, Roman
Marble cinerary urn in the form of a tree stump with leaves and grapes, Marble, Roman

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