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From the Descriptive Page:GAMES and spectacles of various sorts held an exceedingly prominent place in the early period of the Roman empire. They were the chief means whereby the populace was amused and quieted while the emperors played the rôle of despots. Immense and magnificent circuses and amphitheatres were erected for these spectacles; materials for them were gathered from all parts of the known world, and fabulous sums were expended for their maintenance. They were presided over by prætors and consuls, and the emperors themselves not seldom took a leading part in their direction. The three chief varieties of these sports were the chariot race, gladiatorial combats, and fights with wild animals. Sometimes the human participants in the latter combats were trained fighters; sometimes they were hirelings; sometimes captives or criminals whose devoted lives were thus utilized for the public amusement. In some cases the animals, made furious by hunger or fire, were let loose upon each other. Pompey arranged a fight of five or six hundred lions, eighteen elephants and four hundred other ferocious animals, brought from Africa. Augustus exhibited a fight with crocodiles in the Flaminian circus, which was flooded for the occasion. Caligula provided a fight between four hundred bears and an equal number of other wild animals. In the spectacles furnished by Titus at the dedication of the Colosseum it is said that the number of wild animals killed was not less than nine thousand. Wagner's learned and vivid pencil places before us one of these conflicts, in which a number of trained fighters (bestiarii) are pitted against a powerful and savage bull. The maddened beast has laid low at least two of his assailants, and may possibly avenge himself yet further on his tormentors, although his own fate is sealed and the end of the struggle is near. He fights bravely, but the odds are too heavy for him. Horsemen and footmen enclose him in a fatal circle, in which he will presently lie spent and bleeding, pierced by sword and spear. The representation is accurate and complete in general effect and in detail, and thrills with the fierce passion of the actual scene. Alexander Wagner was born at Pesth, Hungary, in 1838, and studied at Munich under Piloty. He was appointed Professor in the Academy of that city when only twenty-eight years old, which position he still fills with distinction. He is one of the ablest contemporary painters of horses, and he possesses the knowledge and intelligence to make these animals a conspicuous element in historic compositions. PUBLISHED DATE : 1880s OVERALL SIZE approx 11 x 15 1/4 inches Actual print size: 7 1/2 x 11 1/4 ins - PUBLISHER Gebbie & co. CONDITION: There is visible smudges in the borders otherwise in Very Good Condition and Blank on back. Suitable ageing. As scanned. The image is clean, clear and sharp with beautiful detail. The print comes with a descriptive page. FOLLOWING BEFORE YOU PURCHASE: This is a GENUINE ANTIQUE VINTAGE 1880s Print/Map. It is NOT a modern reproduction, ie. a laser scan, photocopy, etc. It is the original from the antique or vintage atlas or book publication. This print was published on the date mentioned, or circa the date mentioned at the top of the page. The print I have for sale, like many antique vintage prints and maps that you see online, originate from an antique vintage book or atlas publication. The publication may not always be known. If you have any questions, emails are welcome. Shipped Unmatted.
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