Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae: Lion Attacking a Horse 1535 - 1585

Adamo Scultori created this engraving, "Lion Attacking a Horse," in Italy sometime in the 16th century. It’s one of many prints that comprised the “Speculum Romanae Magnificentiae,” or “Mirror of Roman Magnificence.” But what does an image of animal combat have to do with Roman magnificence? In the Renaissance, prints like these were popular ways of circulating classical sculpture and architecture, often to those who couldn’t travel to Rome. The "Mirror" includes images of famous antiquities, such as the equestrian statue of Marcus Aurelius. Although this print doesn’t directly reproduce a single antique sculpture, its subject matter—the lion attacking the horse—resembles sculptural groups popular in the Roman empire. Such sculptures often adorned the villas of the wealthy, signifying their power and status. The image itself can therefore be seen as a kind of cultural shorthand. It signifies an elite class's aspirations to the virtues of the Roman past, and the importance of art institutions in shaping cultural values. To learn more, collections like the “Speculum” are invaluable.