Scene from the story of Tarquinius and the Sibylline Books
Artist/Maker
Material / Technique
Dimensionsh x w: Mått 38,4 x 64,8 cm h x w: Passepartout 60 x 80 cm h x w x d: Ram 65 x 85 x 3,5 cm
Inventory numberNMH 163/1863
AcqusitionTransferred 1866 from Kongl. Museum (Carl Gustaf Tessin)
Other titlesTitle (sv): Scen från historien om Tarquinius och de Sibyllinska böckerna Title (en): Scene from the story of Tarquinius and the Sibylline Books Inventory title (sv): Flera personer öpna en kista i hvilken är böcker
DescriptionDescription: Vertical fold at centre, tears and trimmed edges Laid down Inscribed in pen and brown ink at lower left "Salviati" According to Vasari, Salviati designed a tapestry series for a Medici favorite, Cristofani Rinieri, who was also a good friend of the artist. The lost series illustrated "all of the story of Tarquinius and Lucrezia". Because his work on the Tarquinius tapestries was excellent, Salviati was engaged to design part of the Joseph series of tapestries for Duke Cosimo de' Medici in the mid-1540s. The episode depicted in the Stockholm sheet involves Tarquinius's desire to obtain the oracles from the Cumaean Sibyl. The Sibyl offered the nine volumes of the oracles to him for a high price. When he refused, she burned three of the books and offered the remainder to him for the same price. Tarquinius again balked, so she burned three more. Tarquinius ultimately purchased three at the original price. The books were stored in a vault beneath the temple of the Capitoline Jupiter and were consumed in the conflagration of the Capitol in 83 B.C. [Bjurström, It. Drawings, cat. no. 1165]
Collection
Geographical origin
TechniqueWash drawing, Elevated, Drawing
Object category