Frieze with Male Figures and Two Horses

After Polidoro da Caravaggio Italian

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.

Frieze with Male Figures and Two Horses, After Polidoro da Caravaggio (Italian, Caravaggio ca. 1499–ca. 1543 Messina), Pen and brown ink, brown wash.

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Frieze with Male Figures and Two Horses, After Polidoro da Caravaggio (Italian, Caravaggio ca. 1499–ca. 1543 Messina), Pen and brown ink, brown wash.
Frieze with Male Figures and Two Horses, After Polidoro da Caravaggio (Italian, Caravaggio ca. 1499–ca. 1543 Messina), Pen and brown ink, brown wash.

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