British Museum, Cast of palmette-and-lotus frieze of Erechtheion epicranitis at the British Museum

Cast of palmette-and-lotus frieze of Erechtheion epicranitis at the British Museum

From: British Museum

RA Collection: Art

On free display in Green Room - North Dining Room

The cast shows a small area of the epicranitis (moulded border at the top of the wall) of the exterior of the main building of the Erechtheion on the acropolis of Athens. It is made from a fragment now in the British Museum which was acquired from Thomas Bruce, 7th Earl of Elgin in 1816. The Royal Academy has three other versions of this cast: 04/2834, 12/2261, and 12/2262.

The Erechtheion, built between 421 and 405 BC housed a number of different cults. For this reason and because of the sloping terrain on which it is built, it is an asymmetrical structure with three different porches. The temple is Ionic in order and has fine architectural detail of which the Royal Academy has a total of 12 casts.

Object details

Title
Cast of palmette-and-lotus frieze of Erechtheion epicranitis at the British Museum
From
Object type
Cast Sculpture
Medium
Plaster cast, 19th century?
Dimensions

235 mm x 41 mm x 40 mm, Weight: 3.1 kg

Collection
Royal Academy of Arts
Object number
04/2834
return to start
back

Start exploring the RA Collection

read more
  • Explore art works, paint-smeared palettes, scribbled letters and more...
  • Artists and architects have run the RA for 250 years.
    Our Collection is a record of them.
Start exploring