Roman Tessellated Pavement discovered in Leadenhall Street, London, in December 1803.

Description

Copper engraving with original hand colouring. 'Engraved by James Basire after the drawing by Thomas Fisher of the East India House'.

Image size: 502 x 550mm

In generally good condition, though a number of tears to the edges have been successfully repaired on the rear using conservation-grade tape. The left margin is slightly wider than the right; both are wider than top and bottom margins. Bottom margin trimmed very close the title.

An exquisitely engraved and beautifully coloured example of the mosaic discovered in Leadenhall Street in December 1803, as reported in the Morning Post of 11 January 1804: 

"The curiosities found last week in digging opposite the East India House in Leadenhall-street, proved to be exceedingly valuable. About ten feet below the surface of the street, the workmen finding something hard, it was immediately inspected by that respectable antiquarian Mr. WILKINS, by whose directions and assiduity a perfect urn was soon brought out. It contained a quantity of bones, among which a finger and jawbone were plainly discernible. A beautiful Roman tessellated pavement was also discovered, and by the nice attention of the same gentleman, one piece of about four feet by two, was raised uninjured. The entire pavement seems to have been a square of nine feet, in the centre of which is an elegantly adorned circle of four feet, containing Bacchus holding a wand, and riding on a tiger; the figure is in a purple robe, and the attitude of the beast is very grand; his head looking at the figure on his back, one of his fore feet raised, stepping well forward, and the tail extended. — Under the able direction of the librarian there is no doubt of the whole being rendered well worthy the attention of the antiquarian."