My report on a chosen Roman Sculpture: Capitoline Wolf

The Roman sculpture I have chosen to write my report on is the Capitoline Wolf. The Capitoline Wolf shows a she-wolf suckling the supposed founders of Ancient Rome, Romulus and Remus. The wolf itself is shown in a tense pose with alert eyes and ears held erect as if she were keeping a look out for danger. As for the twin human infants being suckled by the wolf, they are shown in a different way to the wolf – they are shown being absorbed in their suckling, hardly noticing the world around them.

The sculpture is made of bronze, is 75 cm tall and 114 cm long. The date it was made is unknown as of now (30th November 2010). The dating of this sculpture spans from 500 – 480 BC to the 13th and late 15th centuries. However the twins are known to be added to the artwork in the late 15th century. They were most likely added by the sculptor Antonio Pollaiolo. A claim from Cicero, a Roman philosopher; caused the belief that the Capitoline Wolf sculpture has been struck by lightning, explaining a strange marking on 1 of the she-wolf’s paws. This was later believed to have been caused by an error during the casting of the sculpture in the year 1854; which was then proven in modern times to be true.

The legend behind what is the Capitoline Wolf represents is that when Numitor, father of the twins Romulus and Remus, was overthrown by his brother Amulius, Amulius ordered the twins to be cast into the Tiber River. They were rescued by a she-wolf who cared for them until a herdsman called Faustulus, found and raised them.

By Ricky Jassal 11Y30/11/2010 6:17pm