Boston Throne
Encyclopedia
The Boston Throne is an unusual marble sculpture, similar to the Ludovisi Throne
. It probably dates from classical antiquity
, and first appeared in modern times in 1894, shortly after the Ludovisi Throne
was found and sold at auction. It was purchased by Edward Perry Warren
for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
in 1896.
The Boston Throne is a cuboid block of marble, carved in relief on three sides. The main panel on one long side shows a central naked winged youth, holding scales
(mostly now lost). The pans of the scales remain, each containing the small figure of a youth. The central figure stands between two figures of women dressed in Ionian tunics and mantles, seated on palmette
s and volute
. The composition has been interpreted as a psychostasia (weighing of souls), and the figures have variously been identified as Eros, Persephone
and Aphrodite
, or Eros, Venus
and Juno
. The two shorter side panel also show figures: one, an old woman mourning; the other, a boy playing a lyre
.
The consensus is that the Boston Throne is lower in quality than the Ludovisi Throne, with less subtle and figurative characterisation. The Ludovisi Throne is thought to be a 5th century BC Greek original, but it seems likely that the Boston Throne has a substantially later date, perhaps a 1st century BC Roman version of the Ludovisi Throne for the Gardens of Sallust
, or may even be a forgery.
Ludovisi Throne
The Ludovisi Throne is an ancient sculpted block of white marble hollowed at the back and carved with bas-reliefs on the three outer faces. Its authenticity is debated; the majority, who accept it, place it as Western Greek, from Magna Graecia, and date it–; from the Severe style it manifests,...
. It probably dates from classical antiquity
Classical antiquity
Classical antiquity is a broad term for a long period of cultural history centered on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ancient Greece and ancient Rome, collectively known as the Greco-Roman world...
, and first appeared in modern times in 1894, shortly after the Ludovisi Throne
Ludovisi Throne
The Ludovisi Throne is an ancient sculpted block of white marble hollowed at the back and carved with bas-reliefs on the three outer faces. Its authenticity is debated; the majority, who accept it, place it as Western Greek, from Magna Graecia, and date it–; from the Severe style it manifests,...
was found and sold at auction. It was purchased by Edward Perry Warren
Edward Perry Warren
Edward Perry Warren , known as Ned Warren, was an American art collector and the author of works proposing an idealized view of homosexual relationships.-Biography:...
for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
in 1896.
The Boston Throne is a cuboid block of marble, carved in relief on three sides. The main panel on one long side shows a central naked winged youth, holding scales
Weighing scale
A weighing scale is a measuring instrument for determining the weight or mass of an object. A spring scale measures weight by the distance a spring deflects under its load...
(mostly now lost). The pans of the scales remain, each containing the small figure of a youth. The central figure stands between two figures of women dressed in Ionian tunics and mantles, seated on palmette
Palmette
The palmette is a motif in decorative art which, in its most characteristic expression, resembles the fan-shaped leaves of a palm tree. It has an extremely long history, originating in Ancient Egypt with a subsequent development through the art of most of Eurasia, often in forms that bear...
s and volute
Volute
A volute is a spiral scroll-like ornament that forms the basis of the Ionic order, found in the capital of the Ionic column. It was later incorporated into Corinthian order and Composite column capitals...
. The composition has been interpreted as a psychostasia (weighing of souls), and the figures have variously been identified as Eros, Persephone
Persephone
In Greek mythology, Persephone , also called Kore , is the daughter of Zeus and the harvest-goddess Demeter, and queen of the underworld; she was abducted by Hades, the god-king of the underworld....
and Aphrodite
Aphrodite
Aphrodite is the Greek goddess of love, beauty, pleasure, and procreation.Her Roman equivalent is the goddess .Historically, her cult in Greece was imported from, or influenced by, the cult of Astarte in Phoenicia....
, or Eros, Venus
Venus (mythology)
Venus is a Roman goddess principally associated with love, beauty, sex,sexual seduction and fertility, who played a key role in many Roman religious festivals and myths...
and Juno
Juno (mythology)
Juno is an ancient Roman goddess, the protector and special counselor of the state. She is a daughter of Saturn and sister of the chief god Jupiter and the mother of Mars and Vulcan. Juno also looked after the women of Rome. Her Greek equivalent is Hera...
. The two shorter side panel also show figures: one, an old woman mourning; the other, a boy playing a lyre
Lyre
The lyre is a stringed musical instrument known for its use in Greek classical antiquity and later. The word comes from the Greek "λύρα" and the earliest reference to the word is the Mycenaean Greek ru-ra-ta-e, meaning "lyrists", written in Linear B syllabic script...
.
The consensus is that the Boston Throne is lower in quality than the Ludovisi Throne, with less subtle and figurative characterisation. The Ludovisi Throne is thought to be a 5th century BC Greek original, but it seems likely that the Boston Throne has a substantially later date, perhaps a 1st century BC Roman version of the Ludovisi Throne for the Gardens of Sallust
Gardens of Sallust
The Gardens of Sallust were Roman gardens developed by the Roman historian Sallust in the 1st century BC. The landscaped pleasure gardens occupied a large area in the northwestern sector of Rome, in what would become Region VI, between the Pincian and Quirinal hills, near the Via Salaria and later...
, or may even be a forgery.
Further reading
- H. H. Powers, 1923. "The 'Ludovisi Throne' and the Boston Relief" The Art Bulletin, 5.4 (June 1923), pp 102-108.
- Bernard Ashmole and William J. Young, 1968. "The Boston Relief and the Ludovisi Throne", Bulletin of the Museum of Fine Arts, 66 no. 346, pp 124-66.