Rome is preparing to welcome one of the most fascinating cultural events of the year. In conjunction with the Horse Competition, the valuable marble sculpture dating back to the first half of the 2nd century AD, “The Knight’s Relief”, will be on public display. The exhibition will take place at the Casino dell’Orologio of Villa Borghese, one of the beating hearts of Roman culture.
The history and importance of the survey
“The Knight’s Relief” is a work that has aroused great interest for its refinement and its history. Belonging to the Borghese Collection, the sculpture portrays a young knight with scale armor and boots decorated with leontè, in the pose of holding the reins of a horse. The animal, represented only in the front part, walks in a graceful manner, with the tendons and muscle bundles rendered with extreme care. Although the figure’s head is ancient, it is not original and was probably originally covered by a helmet.
The dimensions of the relief are notable: with a height of 1.98 metres, a width of 1.60 meters and a maximum thickness of 0.30 metres, the work is imposing and full of historical significance. The armor worn by the knight, typical of high-ranking soldiers, and the rich barding of the horse suggest that the character depicted was part of the emperor’s personal cavalry, known as Equites singulares Augusti. It is hypothesized that the relief dates back to the Trajan-Hadrian age, a period of great splendor for the Roman Empire.
The restoration and the Borghese collection
“The Knight’s Relief” is composed of eleven fragments and originally decorated the Parco dei Deer, in the heart of Villa Borghese. The artistic wall on which it was walled, known as Prospettiva di Levante, was built between 1618 and 1619 by the architect Giovanni Vasanzio. The stonemasons Bernardino and Agostino Radi recomposed the relief, inserting it into a stucco frame that mixed ancient and modern elements, uniformed by an antiquing patina.
In 1989, the sculpture was removed for storage and, after careful restoration, a modern copy was placed on the site. The current exhibition therefore also represents a return to the origins for this masterpiece, which is once again admired by the public in its magnificence.
Collaborations and curation of the exhibition
The exhibition “The Knight’s Relief” is promoted by Roma Capitale – Capitoline Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, in collaboration with Sport e Salute SpA and FISE (Italian Equestrian Sports Federation). The curatorship is entrusted to Angela Napoletano, a guarantee of competence and passion for cultural heritage.
The initiative represents a unique opportunity to admire one of the most significant works of the Borghese Collection and to better understand the link between art, history and culture in one of the most evocative settings of Rome, Villa Borghese.
Useful information
The exhibition of the sculpture “The Knight’s Relief” is held at the Casino dell’Orologio of Villa Borghese during the Horse Show. Access is free and represents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for art and history enthusiasts. Villa Borghese, known for its gardens and monuments, is one of the main attractions of the capital and with this exhibition confirms its role as guardian of priceless treasures.
The sculpture, thanks to its size and fascinating history, promises to give visitors an immersive experience in the heart of ancient Rome, with the opportunity to appreciate a masterpiece that has spanned centuries of history up to the present day, presenting itself again in all its majesty.
