Can a set of 12 silver cups unlock the secrets of ancient Roman history?
In short: The Aldobrandini Tazze are a set of 12 monumental silver-gilt cups, each topped with a Roman emperor. Created in the late 16th century, these masterpieces feature intricate scenes from the lives of the Caesars. Once scattered and misidentified, they now offer a rare glimpse into Renaissance obsession with ancient Rome.
The Vitellius tazza is a standout piece within the Aldobrandini Tazze, a collection of 12 standing cups crafted between approximately 1587 and 1599. Each vessel stands over a foot tall, featuring a shallow, footed dish adorned with four low-relief scenes. These scenes are not mere decoration; they are visual interpretations of The Lives of the Twelve Caesars, a biography written by the Roman historian Suetonius, who was born around A.D. 70. By translating these historical episodes into silver, Renaissance goldsmiths bridged the gap between ancient literature and 16th-century artistry.
For much of their history, the tazze were shrouded in mystery. In the mid-19th century, the set was disassembled and dispersed, leading to a period where the individual components were frequently mismatched or misidentified. This fragmentation obscured the original intent and configuration of the works for over a century. It was not until the 2017 exhibition at The Met that these pieces were reunited and displayed in their original, intended form, allowing scholars and the public to finally appreciate the full scope of their design.
The exhibition, curated by Julia Siemon, highlights the intellectual ambition behind these objects. Beyond the silver itself, the project incorporates coins, medals, prints, and paintings to contextualize how Renaissance creators viewed the ancient world. The set remains one of the most enigmatic monuments of its era, with ongoing research into its origins and the specific circumstances of its creation. By tracing these historical clues, the exhibition invites viewers to engage with the complex relationship between 19th-century interpretations of the Renaissance and the Renaissance's own fascination with the power and notoriety of the early Roman emperors.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Silver Caesars: The Vitellius tazza
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