anatomical votive(probably)
- Museum number
- 1805,0703.235
- Description
-
Pentelic marble right foot with a snake bound around the ankle, probably dedicated to the god of healing, Aesculapius.
- Production date
- 2ndC (probably)
- Dimensions
-
Height: 31.75 centimetres
-
Length: 41.91 centimetres
- Curator's comments
- Cook 2011, nr. 304, together with 303 (1805,0703.234):
‘Two colossal feet, bearing sandals. Round each is a twisted serpent, it crested head resting on the summit, which terminates a little above the ankle. These feet must have been dedicated to, or symbols of Pluto, Jupiter Serapis, or Jupiter Catacthonius, the foot being the well known representation of those deities. They were brought from Rome by the late Duke of St Albans’ (1804 Parlour Catalogue, hall 42).
Townley recorded the purchase in his diary for 22 December 1798: ‘Went to the European Museum. bought there and paid 3 guineas to Mr Wilson for two marble votive feet with serpents belonging to the Duke of St Albans’ (TY 1/10). In the Wigan Accounts, the payment is said to have been made on 21 December.
Drawings:
* Townley drawings 2010,5006.104 (303) and 2010,5006.103 (304), drawn by Nollekens on 30 December 1798 (TY 1/10).
Bibliography:
- Synopsis of the Contents of the British Museum (1808) VI.80 and 82;
- Ancient Marbles of the British Museum, X, pl. 40, figs. 5 and 6;
- A Guide to the Graeco-Roman Sculptures in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, 2 vols. (London, 1874 [1892] and 1876), II, nos. 43 and 44;
- A. H. Smith, A Catalogue of Sculpture in the Department of Greek and Roman Antiquities, British Museum, Vol. III (London 1904), 213, nos. 2106 and 2107.
- Location
- Not on display
- Acquisition date
- 1805
- Department
- Greek and Roman
- Registration number
- 1805,0703.235
