Capitoline Wolf

This cast is a direct copy from the original sculpture of the Capitoline Wolf (ORIG3423) housed at The Musei Capitolini, Rome. The sculpture depicts a mythical she-wolf suckling the twins Romulus and Remus, from the legend of the foudning of Rome. When Numitor, grandfather of the twins, was overthrown by his brother Amulius, the usurper ordered them to be cast into the Tiber River. They were rescued by a she-wolf who cared for them until a herdsman, Faustulus, found and raised them. The age and origin of the Capitoline Wolf is a subject of controversy. The statue was long thought to be an Etruscan work of the 5th century BC, with the twins added in the late 15th century AD (not included in this original cast), probably by the sculptor Antonio Pollaiolo. However, radiocarbon and thermoluminescence dating has found that the wolf portion of the statue was likely cast between 1021 and 1153.    If you produce new work with the model and want to share it with us, drop us a line at web@sm