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ROMAN BLACK AND WHITE MOSAIC OF A NEREID RIDING A TRITON

The triton holding a torch, both figures holding aloft a drapery. Found at Ostia in the 1960s.
This very large and exceptional mosaic is a companion to the one in the Vatican.

Cf. Ders, Scavi di Ostia IV, p.47ff, fig124ff, especially 132.69. Cf. La Mosaique Gréco-Romain, Paris (1965), p. 23, fig. 10. Villa in Ciciliano, Notizie degli Scavi (1948), p.299ff.
Cf. The mosaics from the same workshop in the Pio Clemente Museum, The Vatican; Ders, Scavi di Ostia IV, p.47ff, fig124ff, especially 132.69; La Mosaique Gréco-Romain, Paris (1965), p. 23, fig. 10. Villa in Ciciliano, Notizie degli Scavi (1948), p.299ff.

Ca. AD 130-150

88 1/2 in. (225 cm.) x 60 3/4 in. (154cm.)

Art of the Ancient World, 2002, no. 24
BZ0001
SOLD
The late Prof. Hans Jucker, one of the most respected experts on Roman mosaics, wrote about this mosaic:

“I have a very readable photo. In it one can see a Nereid, riding to the left side on a fish bodied probably unbearded Triton. The Nereid is holding with her right hand a scarve (velum). In his right hand the Triton is holding the other end of the velum which he is lifting above his shoulder. His fish body is swinging elegantly to the back. The lifted front legs are in the usual manner fitted with hanging flippers.

On each of the upper arms of the sea beauty one can notice a double armlet. Here face can be seen in a 3/4 profile. Thematically and stylistically it is very close to the SeaThiasos from the NeptuneThermae in Ostia--possibly even from the same workshop. These are dated into the late Hadrianic period. The sample of the sea piece presented here seems in its organic depiction to be larger than the named floor picture. There for one might place it into the early Antonine period, probably the 2nd century A.D. it probably originates from a villa in the region of Ostia, where this theme was very popular, hence for it probably was conceived in Middle Italy.”

See also G. Becatti, in : “Colloque.... La Mosaique Greco-Romain, Paris 1965, 23 Fig. 10. Ders. Scavi di ostaia IV, page 47ff. Plate 124ff. specialy 132, 69. Villa in Ciciliano, Notizie degli Scavi 1948 299ff.” Prof. Hans Jucker, Bern, Switzerland 12/30/72
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