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Collection:
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ADJUNCT MODULE A: ITALIAN ART
LocalCollection
ADJUNCT MODULE A: ITALIAN ART
Collection
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Preferred Title:
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Memento Mori Floor Mosaic
Work_PrefTitle
Memento Mori Floor Mosaic
Preferred Title
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Alternate Title:
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Allegoria della morte
Work_AltTitle
Allegoria della morte
Alternate Title
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Image View:
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Detail, skull (death) resting on butterfly (the soul) on top of a wheel (fortune)
Image_Title
Detail, skull (death) resting on butterfly (the soul) on top of a wheel (fortune)
Image View
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Creator:
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unknown (Roman (ancient))
Agent_Display
unknown (Roman (ancient))
Creator
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Location:
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repository: Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples, Campania, Italy) 109982
Work_Location_Type_D isplay
repository: Museo Archeologico Nazionale (Naples, Campania, Italy) 109982
Location
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Location Note:
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Piazza Museo Nazionale, 19; Sala LIX
Work_LocationNotes
Piazza Museo Nazionale, 19; Sala LIX
Location Note
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GPS:
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40.8534 14.2505
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Date:
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30 BCE-14 CE (creation)
Work_DateDisplay
30 BCE-14 CE (creation)
Date
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Cultural Context:
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Roman (ancient)
Work_Culture
Roman (ancient)
Cultural Context
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Style Period:
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Late Republican; Second Style
Work_StylePeriodDisp lay
Late Republican; Second Style
Style Period
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Work Type 1:
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mosaic (visual work)
Work_Worktype1
mosaic (visual work)
Work Type 1
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Work Type 2:
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floor (surface element)
Work_Worktype2
floor (surface element)
Work Type 2
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Classification:
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mosaics
Work_Classification
mosaics
Classification
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Material:
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colored stone tesserae
Work_MaterialDisplay
colored stone tesserae
Material
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Technique:
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mosaic (process)
Work_Technique
mosaic (process)
Technique
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Measurements:
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47 cm (height) x 41 cm (width)
Work_MeasurementDisp lay
47 cm (height) x 41 cm (width)
Measurements
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Description:
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The mosaic, which is in Second Style, formed the emblemata of a floor situated in the triclinium (house cum workshop, Officina coriariorum of M. Vesovius Primus (I.5.2.h); it presents an allegorical and symbolic approach to the philosophical theme, of Hellenistic origin, of the transience of life and the imminence of death ("memento mori") which, by eliminating the disparities of social class and wealth, restores equilibrium to the vagaries of fate. The upper part of the composition shows a level with a plumb-line, an instrument used by workmen to check the level of buildings. The axis of the plumb bob is death (the skull), while below it is a butterfly (the soul) balanced on a wheel (Fortune). Beneath the arms of the level, which are opposed and perfectly balanced, are the symbols of poverty to the right (the knapsack, the beggar’s stick and the cloak) and the symbols of wealth to the left (the sceptre, purple and the crown). (Source: Naples National Archaeological Museum [website]; http://cir.campania. beniculturali.it/mus eoarcheologiconazion ale)
Work_Description_Sou rce
The mosaic, which is in Second Style, formed the emblemata of a floor situated in the triclinium (house cum workshop, Officina coriariorum of M. Vesovius Primus (I.5.2.h); it presents an allegorical and symbolic approach to the philosophical theme, of Hellenistic origin, of the transience of life and the imminence of death ("memento mori") which, by eliminating the disparities of social class and wealth, restores equilibrium to the vagaries of fate. The upper part of the composition shows a level with a plumb-line, an instrument used by workmen to check the level of buildings. The axis of the plumb bob is death (the skull), while below it is a butterfly (the soul) balanced on a wheel (Fortune). Beneath the arms of the level, which are opposed and perfectly balanced, are the symbols of poverty to the right (the knapsack, the beggar’s stick and the cloak) and the symbols of wealth to the left (the sceptre, purple and the crown). (Source: Naples National Archaeological Museum [website]; http://cir.campania. beniculturali.it/mus eoarcheologiconazion ale)
Description
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Collection:
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Adjunct Module A: Italian Art
LocalCollection
Adjunct Module A: Italian Art
Collection
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Identifier:
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7A1-R-NAM-MM-A02
Image_OriginalVendor ID
7A1-R-NAM-MM-A02
Identifier
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Rights:
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© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.
Image_Rights
© Scott Gilchrist, Archivision, Inc.
Rights
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