The essence
A finely executed mid-19th-century Grand Tour replica of the celebrated Alexander Mosaic, discovered in 1831 in the House of the Faun at Pompeii and now preserved in the National Archaeological Museum of Naples.
The monumental original, measuring approximately 5.82 × 3.13 metres, is one of the most celebrated works to have emerged from the excavations of Pompeii. The composition is traditionally identified with the Battle of Issus of 333 BC, depicting the dramatic confrontation between Alexander the Great and the Persian king Darius III. Alexander advances from the left at the head of his troops, while Darius, portrayed on his chariot, turns to flee the battlefield, his expressive face capturing the fear and turmoil of the Persian retreat.
Executed in polychrome maiolica and signed “Giustiniani” on the reverse, the present plaque reflects the nineteenth-century fascination with the archaeological discoveries of Pompeii and the revival of classical antiquity within Grand Tour culture. The Neapolitan Giustiniani manufactory was renowned for its archaeological revival production inspired by the ancient world and is documented for its reproductions of the celebrated Alexander Mosaic.
Provenience
- Italian private collection.
Technical specifications
- Period
- Mid-19th century (XIX)
- Dimensions
- H 24 x W 40 cm
- Material
- Polychrome maiolica
