Ceiling in Hadrian's Villa, with Nymphs, Centaurs, Stags, and Elephants
ca. 1785
Classification
interiors
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund
Accession Number
1938-88-4830
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the enchanting world of ancient Rome through this captivating 18th Italian artwork, *Ceiling in Hadrian Villa, with Nymph, Centaurs, Stags, and Elephants Created around 1785 by an unknown artist, it vividly recreates the opulent interior ceiling of Emperor Hadrian's grand villa in Tivoli,—a sprawling complex built in the 2nd century AD as a retreat blending architecture, gardens, and mythology. The composition bursts with dynamic figures: graceful nymphs, mythical centaurs, majestic stags, and exotic elephants, evoking the emperor's fascination with classical lore and distant lands. ...