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Vetusta Monumenta: Ancient Monuments, a Digital Edition

Volume 2, Plates 41 — 55

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Plate 2.43 of Vetusta Monumenta depicts four Roman mosaic floors and various smaller finds excavated from Pitt Mead near Warminster and recorded by Catherine Downes in 1786. The engraving depicts designs from the mosaics along with scaled-up depictions of a piece of animal horn, a metal ring, star, and an ivory bodkin also unearthed at the site. Engraving by James Basire Sr. after Catherine Downes. 545 mm x 413 mm (bifolium). Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1788. Current Location: Although a substantial portion of one of the mosaics was preserved by Lord Weymouth during initial excavation, its current location is unknown.
Plate 2.44 of Vetusta Monumenta depicts fragments of two Roman mosaics unearthed in Cirencester and Woodchester, Gloucestershire in the late eighteenth century. The Cirencester fragment includes images of various marine creatures and cupids. The Woodchester fragment, also known as the “Great Pavement” because of its status as the largest known Roman mosaic in Britain, includes images of an elephant and three birds. Engraving by James Basire Sr. after Samuel Lysons. 602 mm x 403 mm (bifolium). Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1788. Current location: The majority of both pavements was lost or reburied, but a fragment of the Cirencester pavement survives in a private collection and a fragment of the Woodchester pavement is housed at the British Museum, London, UK.
Plates 1.50-1.52 of Vetusta Monumenta depict three mid fourth-century CE Roman mosaic pavements at Wellow, Somerset, UK, the first of which was found by John Aubrey c. 1685. Further investigations of the site were carried out in 1737 by Edmund Prideaux and James West, who found the second and third pavements, respectively. Engravings by George Vertue after James Vertue and James West. 365 x 529 mm, 360 x 469 mm, and 368 x 476 mm. Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1738. Current location: Mosaics I (Plate 1.50) and III (Plate 1.52) no longer survive; Mosaic II (Plate 1.51) was found in 1737, reopened and damaged in 1807, and is now thought to be lost.
Plates 1.50-1.52 of Vetusta Monumenta depict three mid fourth-century CE Roman mosaic pavements at Wellow, Somerset, UK, the first of which was found by John Aubrey c. 1685. Further investigations of the site were carried out in 1737 by Edmund Prideaux and James West, who found the second and third pavements, respectively. Engravings by George Vertue after James Vertue and James West. 365 x 529 mm, 360 x 469 mm, and 368 x 476 mm. Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1738. Current location: Mosaics I (Plate 1.50) and III (Plate 1.52) no longer survive; Mosaic II (Plate 1.51) was found in 1737, reopened and damaged in 1807, and is now thought to be lost.
Plate 2.53 of Vetusta Monumenta depicts the sepulchral monument of Henry Bourchier, First Earl of Essex, and his wife, Isabel of Cambridge. The fifteenth-century tomb features a brass plate, formerly richly enameled, carved in low relief and set on a stone base. The print offers two perspectives on the monument: a side view of the entire tomb, and a bird's-eye view of the brass memorial. Between these two images are insets of key elements of the Bourchiers’ heraldic symbols. Engraving by James Basire Sr. after Jacob Schnebbelie. 497 mm x 323 mm. Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1789. Current Location: St. Mary’s Church, Little Easton, Essex, UK.
Plates 2.54-2.55 of Vetusta Monumenta depict the Ruthwell Cross, an eighth-century monumental stone cross, presenting carvings of biblical scenes and other Christian iconography on the north and south sides and decorative vine scrolls with animals on the east and west sides. The north and south sides also feature inscriptions in Latin, while the east and west sides feature inscriptions of an Old English poetic text written in runic characters. The engravings do not represent the Ruthwell Cross in its current state or in its entirety. The cross was broken up in the seventeenth century, and some parts were not rediscovered until after the publication of these plates. The cross was not reassembled in its current state until 1823. The assemblage shown here therefore differs from what visitors see today. Engravings by James Basire Sr after drawings by Adam de Cardonnell. Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1789. Current Location: Ruthwell Church, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, UK.
Plates 2.54-2.55 of Vetusta Monumenta depict the Ruthwell Cross, an eighth-century monumental stone cross, presenting carvings of biblical scenes and other Christian iconography on the north and south sides and decorative vine scrolls with animals on the east and west sides. The north and south sides also feature inscriptions in Latin, while the east and west sides feature inscriptions of an Old English poetic text written in runic characters. The engravings do not represent the Ruthwell Cross in its current state or in its entirety. The cross was broken up in the seventeenth century, and some parts were not rediscovered until after the publication of these plates. The cross was not reassembled in its current state until 1823. The assemblage shown here therefore differs from what visitors see today. Engravings by James Basire Sr after drawings by Adam de Cardonnell. Published by the Society of Antiquaries of London in 1789. Current Location: Ruthwell Church, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, UK.