Journal - Comune di Monteleone di Spoleto

V.56 Frieze on proper left side, front
V.57 Frieze on proper left side, back
V.58 Frieze on proper left side. drawing by Paul Bollo, 1903
90
rest against the curve of the bronze sheet and its left foreleg
is placed on the ground, while the other is raised. The bull’s
left foreleg has buckled to the ground and its head has sunk
below the feline’s body. Behind the bull is the stag with
large antlers, its body to the left and its head turned back.
The second lion attacks it and sinks its teeth into its back.
The heads and bodies are depicted in profile and the raised
lions’ tails form esses. Their manes are traced in a flame pattern
outlined with two lines. The mane of the lion on the
right is fuller but covers only the head and neck, while the
mane of the left lion is flatter and runs along the feline’s
back. Both animals’ bellies are punched with tiny dots, as
are the soft parts of the bull’s muzzle.
Condition. The frieze is complete, although it is made up of
three joined pieces with slight losses. The parts of the lower
edge shown in the drawing made in 1903 (Figure V.58),
together with some of the original nail, are missing. The
surface is primarily compact brown tarnish with large zones
of green corrosion and some small metallic areas. The losses
correspond to the areas embrittled by corrosion. The reverse
surface is primarily green corrosion, supporting the idea
that — in this case, too — it touched another surface, such as