An Italian engraving of an antique Roman urn, colored in deep Pompeian red with soft cream and gold, numbered Plate XII. The inscription reads Vaso Antico trovato a Tivoli, “ancient vase found at Tivoli.” Tivoli is the town outside Rome where excavations at Hadrian’s Villa turned up many of the classical marbles prized by Grand Tour collectors. The urn’s frieze shows a young putto with a staff between two goats, beneath a garland of trailing grapevine, all imagery tied to Bacchus. Ram’s head handles frame a band of rosettes, and the body narrows through a gadrooned bowl to a pedestal with a rope-twist base. It is set in a cream mat with a beaded gilt fillet, in a black and gold frame. It is lovely in a library, a dining room, or hung as part of a gallery wall.
- Origin: Italy
- Age: Late 19th century-early 20th century
- Medium: Colored engraving on paper, with visible plate mark
- Details: Antique urn with putto, goats, grapevine, ram’s head handles, and rosette band; Plate XII; cream mat with beaded gilt fillet; black and gold frame, glazed
- Dimensions: 20.75"W × 25"H
- Condition: Good condition. The frame has small chips to the corners and light wear to the gilt.
