Talk
The Silver Caesars: A Renaissance Mystery by Dr Julia Siemon
09 Apr 2018
Spencer House
London, United Kingdom
-
Augustus Figure
-
Titus Bull Detail
Exhibition
The Silver Caesars: A Renaissance Mystery
18 Apr 2018 – 22 Jul 2018
Regular hours
- Wednesday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Thursday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Friday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Saturday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Sunday
- 10:00 – 18:00
- Tuesday
- 10:00 – 18:00
Cost of entry
£5 Adult
Address
Travel Information
- Waddesdon is putting on a free bus service to and from Aylesbury Vale Parkway station, for the main season from April to October
- By train to Aylesbury or Aylesbury Vale Parkway station.
Event map
For the first time in more than 150 years some of the most extraordinary and enigmatic treasures of the Renaissance, a set of 12 European silver-gilt standing cups – known as the ‘Aldobrandini Tazze’ – will be reunited and displayed together at Waddesdon Manor.
About
These beautiful table ornaments celebrate the Twelve Caesars, notorious rulers of ancient Rome. Each standing cup (or tazza) includes a portrait of one of the Caesars, as well as four episodes from his life on the supporting dish. The 48 vignettes bring to life the book, The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, by Roman historian Suetonius (written in the early second century AD).
One of the great mysteries surrounding the Silver Caesars is that no record exists detailing their origin. We do not know when the set was made, by whom, for whom, or for what purpose. However, new research revealed in the exhibition now goes some way to answering those questions.
