Ancient Helmets and a Bronze Warrior Hurling a Javelin, Lithograph, 1842

This is an original antique lithograph from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842), drawn in the dark tones of bronze and finished by hand with a pale olive green wash. The upper image shows six helmets. In the top row are a helmet with two tall curved projections like ears, shown on a head, a round domed helmet seen from behind with a fringed crest falling at the nape, and a peaked helmet on a bust in profile. In the second row are a close fitting helmet framing the face with a small crest, a helmet with a high forward curling crest on a head in profile, and a domed cap with a knob finial and a hanging cheek guard. In the lower image a statuette of a warrior on a plinth, in a helmet that covers the face and in greaves, raises a javelin behind his head and holds a bundle of spare shafts at his side. At the right are two helmets that enclose the face, one seen from the front and one in profile, each framing a bearded face.

The plate is lettered "Tom. IV" at the upper left, "ITALIA" in the center and "Tav. 39" at the upper right. The captions read "Celate e Cassidi variati" (various helmets), "Guer.° che lancia un' asta velitare" (warrior hurling a light javelin of the velites) and "Celate" (helmets).

In ancient Rome the velites were lightly armed skirmishers who fought with bundles of javelins thrown before the main lines met.

The restrained tonal palette suits a study or a collection of classical and archaeological prints.

This is an original antique print, not a modern reproduction. This item is sold unframed.