Roman Praetorians Relief and a Catapult, Italy, Hand Colored, 1842

This original antique lithograph, colored by hand, is a plate from the Galleria Universale di Tutti i Popoli del Mondo (Venice, Giuseppe Antonelli, 1842). The upper image reproduces a fragment of carved relief in warm stone tones: two Roman soldiers stand side by side, each in a helmet with cheek guards, a cuirass of overlapping bands over a short tunic, and sandals, each raising one hand with a pointing finger and resting the other on a tall rectangular shield. The lower image shows a heavy timber catapult: a long horizontal frame with an upright and a crossbeam, a throwing arm bound with cord and capped in green, a toothed ratchet wheel, a lever for winding, a dotted arc marking the swing of the arm, and a loose iron bolt lying on the ground in front.

The top margin is lettered "Tom. IV" at left, "ITALIA" in the center and "Tav. 50" at right. The captions read "Pretoriani" (Praetorians) and "Catapulta" (Catapult).

The Praetorian Guard was the household troop of the Roman emperors, stationed in Rome. Siege and field engines that stored energy in twisted cords or a bent arm were part of the equipment of Roman armies, used to throw stones and bolts against walls and troops. The drawing shows the working parts plainly, from the winding gear to the path of the arm, in the manner of the instructional plates the book was made for.

The pairing of soldiers and machine, one in warm stone tones and one in plain timber colors, suits a collection of military history or of classical Rome.

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