Cast of half of composite capital from east side of passageway, late 18th century/early 19th century

From: Arch of Titus, Rome

RA Collection: Art

On free display in The Dorfman Architecture Court

The cast reproduces one of the two extant composite capitals from the Arch of Titus. Of the original eight capitals only the two half-capitals flanking the passageway of the east (Colosseum-facing) side of the Arch are preserved. This is the southernmost of the two capitals.

It was acquired by the Royal Academy from Thomas Lawrence whose collection was sold on 10 May 1830. In the section on plaster casts, under the heading Arch of Titus, the catalogue entry 78 reads, 'Capital to Columns of the Order'.

The composite capital, which features the scrolls of the Ionic order and the acanthus leaves of the Corinthian order, was a Roman invention. The Arch of Titus, built between 82-90, provides one of the earliest examples of this type of capital.