Ceremonial Front
original west front
Scrolling Acanthus Relief at lower-left
The print at left below, based on research at the time of the 1937-38 reconstruction, shows the few original pieces of this relief that have survived. The other portions are reconstructions and casts based on other surviving portions of the extensive vegetal friezes of the altar. Althought the casts are of high quality, their relatively flat, unmodulated surfaces contrast with the subtlety and refinement of the original marble carvings.
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Flat lighting. As with all 6 vegetal reliefs on the outside of the precinct wall, an upright central stem and scrolling tendrils at the sides grow vigorously from a large, central acanthus calyx, filling the entire space.
photo July 2008 |
Raking light brings out some form, obscures others. There are 2 swans on each of the 2 vegetal relief panels on the front entrance facade. The 2 on this relief are copies with crude surfaces.
photo Oct. 2008 |
Demonstration of an innovative, technically complex color projection to suggest the original colors of the front facades.
photo May 2010
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"Fig. 120 - Design of the preserved parts of the left decorative panel (west)". The other portions of this relief are mostly plaster casts made from surviving portions of other panels.
Scanned from Giuseppe Moretti, L'Ara Pacis Augustae; Rome, 2005 (ist ed. 1948), vol.1, fig.120. Courtesy of the Istituto Poligrafico e Zecca dello Stato, Rome. Reproduced with appreciation. |
A finely carved original fragment, though with eroded surface, near the center of the panel.
photo Oct. 2008
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A fragment of the original carving at the lower-right of the panel.
photo July-Oct. 2008
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The only relatively large section of original marble in this panel, damaged but much more finely carved than the surrounding cast.
photo Oct. 2008 |
A small but luxuriant detail, in strong, direct sun.
photo July-Oct. 2008
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Angle view of same detail as in photo at left, no direct sun.
photo July-Oct. 2008
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Rough surface of plaster cast.
photo Oct. 2008
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Rough surface of high quality plaster cast.
photo Oct. 2008 |
Rough surface of plaster cast..
photo July-Oct. 2008
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