The Vicarello Goblet
This masterpiece of the Roman silversmith’s art is exquisitely worked in relief. The multifigure scene centers on a rustic shrine of the ithyphallic fertility god Priapus, son of Dionysos. He takes the form of a stylized boundary marker atop a column, where a woman seems to have brought him to life by touching him. To the left sits a table with votive offerings to the god. Flanking the shrine are a satyr and maenad, dancing ecstatically.
Details
- Palette
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- Medium
- silver
- Dimensions
- overall: height 0.122 m, width 0.078 m
- Department
- Greek and Roman Art
- Holding institution
- Cleveland Museum of Art
- Image provider
- cleveland-museum-of-art
- License
- CC0-1.0
- Credit
- Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
Art Genome Taxonomy
8 tags
Subject Matter
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Mythology and Religion Metadata · 99%
The catalog describes a rustic shrine, Priapus, votive offerings, and dancing satyr and maenad figures, establishing a mythological and religious subject.
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Deities and Holy Figures Metadata · 97%
The central subject is identified in the catalog as Priapus, an ithyphallic fertility god represented in stylized boundary-marker form.
Visual Qualities
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Highly Ornamented Visual · 93%
The visible exterior is densely occupied by raised figural, architectural, and decorative detail rather than a largely plain surface.
Medium and Techniques
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Relief Both · 99%
Raised figures, architectural elements, and decorative forms project from the vessel’s surface, and the catalog explicitly describes it as worked in relief.
Time Periods
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Ancient Art Metadata · 99%
The object is dated 25 BCE–25 CE, placing it within the catalog’s Ancient Art period.
Materials
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Silver Metadata · 99%
The catalog specifies silver as the medium; the image also shows a reflective silvery surface.
Cultural and Religious Styles
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Greek and Roman Art and Architecture Metadata · 99%
The catalog classifies the work as Greek and Roman Art and identifies it as Roman, made in Italy during the Augustan period.
Tableware, Vessels, and Objects
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Vessel Both · 99%
The image shows a footed open vessel with a broad rim, and the catalog identifies the object as The Vicarello Goblet.
Source & rights
Unknown artist. The Vicarello Goblet. Cleveland Museum of Art.