Pair of Egyptian-style reclining lions attributed to the workshop of Luigi Valadier (1726-1785)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Carved white marble. Bases in Rosso Antico marble, white marble, and sea green marble. Mounted in chiseled and gilded bronze with friezes and pearls. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roma, Late 18th-early 19th century<\/p>\n\n\n\n
H 29 cm L 35,5 cm P 13,5 cm<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This pair of lions are smaller versions of the Egyptian lions in black basalt dating from the first century BCE and originating from the Iseo Campense, a temple erected by Domitian in the Campus Martius in honor of the Egyptian gods Isis and Serapis. They were subsequently placed at the entrance to the church of Santo Stefano del Cacco. Then, in 1562, Pius IV de\u2019 Medici (1559\u20131565) donated them to the Roman people to adorn the Capitoline Cordonata on pedestals designed by the sculptor Giacomo Della Porta. When the Acqua Felice aqueduct was brought to the Capitoline Hill in 1587, the lions were adapted into fountains, with two travertine chalices placed in front of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These two lions have since become iconic symbols of Rome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Architect Giuseppe Valadier also reused them for the four fountains surrounding an Egyptian obelisk during the redesign of Piazza del Popolo between 1811 and 1823.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Paire de lions couch\u00e9s \u00e0 l’\u00e9gyptienne attribu\u00e9s \u00e0 l’atelier de Luigi Valadier (1726-1785) Marbre blanc sculpt\u00e9. Bases en marbre Rosso Antico, marbre blanc et vert de mer. Monture en bronze cisel\u00e9 et dor\u00e9 de frises et perles. Rome, Fin du XVIIIe – D\u00e9but du XIXe si\u00e8cle H 29 cm L 35,5 cm P 13,5 cm … <\/p>\n