Decorative roundels like this marvelous bronze
example are some of the more mysterious
objects in the whole of Roman art. While we
know they served as adornments, the objects
they once embellished, ranging from pieces of
furniture to chariots, were assembled from less
durable materials and have long since
disappeared, leaving behind these decorations.
The only clue we have to their placement is the
series of small round holes and the larger square
hole that penetrate the flat rim. It is likely that a
large nail would have been driven into the
roundel in order to secure it in place on the
object it once adorned, be it chest or chair. Nails
may have been driven into the smaller holes as
added support. However, it is also possible that
a wooden frame may have been nailed into place
using these holes. The advantages of this theory
are twofold: the frame would have both covered
the unattractive nail in the top center and served
visually as a transition between the bronze of the
roundel and the wood of the object to which it
was attached.
The figure of winged Cupid, the mischievous god
of love, smiles down upon us. Rendered in high
relief, he appears the idealized vision of male
youth, with a fleshy, full face, long, wavy locks of
hair, and a longing, melancholic gaze. His wings
have been sculpted with expert attention, with
every feather noted and the individual texture of
each feather highlighted with delicately incised
lines. Such detail is also visible in his curly hair,
where the individual strands have been
suggested by similar incising. His pupils have
been indicated by two small dots that may have
once been inlaid with silver in order to heighten
the naturalism of his stare. His chest is covered
with two tasseled straps that cross over one
another. They have a texture suggesting that
there are either beaded or woven. A small round
pendant marks the join where the two straps
overlap. Perhaps these straps are connected to
his quiver that Cupid presumably carries on his
back. This masterpiece of Roman art was
originally a decorative element meant to
embellish a luxurious piece of furniture. Today,
however, this roundel serves as an independent
work of art that can be appreciated and admired
on its own.
- (X.0193)
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