ticketsMember | Make a donation

Frieze with Male Figures and Two Horses

mid-16th century
Not on view
The drawing represents part of the story of Tarquinius, the legendary king of Rome in the sixth century BC, and Attus, the augur (an official who foretells events through omens). The composition was copied from the painted facade of a Roman palace (Casa Boniauguri), executed by Polidoro da Caravaggio, a pupil of Raphael’s who was famous for such works. This sheet is part of a group of drawings and engravings (including 1975.1.406) that portray various portions of the lost painting and together help to reconstruct its original appearance. The frieze of military figures and horsemen was inspired by reliefs from classical antiquity, namely Roman monuments portraying triumphal processions.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Frieze with Male Figures and Two Horses
  • Artist: After Polidoro da Caravaggio (Italian, Caravaggio ca. 1499–ca. 1543 Messina)
  • Date: mid-16th century
  • Medium: Pen and brown ink, brown wash.
  • Dimensions: 7 3/4 x 15 in. (19.7 x 38.1 cm)
  • Classification: Drawings
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.407
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Ornamental Design with Amphore and Antique Style Armor (recto); Sketch with Two Figures (verso), Polidoro da Caravaggio Italian, Pen and brown ink, over traces of black chalk or leadpoint; partial framing line (recto); graphite or leadpoint; pen and brown ink (verso)
Ornamental Design with Amphore and Antique Style Armor (recto); Sketch with Two Figures (verso)
Polidoro da Caravaggio
16th century
Military Procession, Polidoro da Caravaggio Italian, Oil on canvas, Italian, Rome
Military Procession
Polidoro da Caravaggio
second half 16th century
Phalaris seated on a throne at left and pointing at Perillus, who is pushed into a bronze bull to be roasted inside, after Polidoro da Caravaggio
Polidoro da Caravaggio
Giovanni Giacomo De Rossi
1634
Roman Procession, Polidoro da Caravaggio Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, highlighted with white
Roman Procession
Polidoro da Caravaggio
1499–1543
St. Peter Delivered from Prison, Polidoro da Caravaggio Italian, Pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, and red chalk
St. Peter Delivered from Prison
Polidoro da Caravaggio
1499–1543

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.