Sean Curley

100 X 100cm, oil on canvas

This painting of a relief from Constantine’s Triumphal Arch depicts one of Marcus Aurelius’ generals making pagan sacrifices; this, amongst other fascinating paradoxes, inspired this painting at a time when I was exploring two dimensional representations of three dimensional subjects. The use of recycled reliefs for Constantine’s Arch is often explained as due to the decline in artistic standards of the Roman Empire, and symbolic of the decline of the empire itself, at this time – a decline which accelerated after Constantine’s reign.

I particularly like the use of this pagan relief to celebrate Constantine’s famous ” Christian ” victory at the Milvian Bridge, coupled with the interesting theories of some historians who believe the defeated Maxentius actually erected the arch that ended up celebrating his defeat, rather than Constantine! Historians also debate whether the persecution of Christians occurred in Marcus Aurelius’ reign, which would make it even more fascinating that Constantine used this relief despite his Christian fervour, should this have indeed happened. All in all, the subject of this oil painting is full of inspiring contradictions for someone, like myself, with an interest in the ancient world.