Mosaic of Tigress and Cubs
AD 300s
Maker Unknown
Greek and Roman Art
Mosaic of Tigress and Cubs, AD 300s. Eastern Roman Empire, 4th century AD. Tesserae; overall: 142.9 x 135.4 cm (56 1/4 x 53 5/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, John L. Severance Fund 1987.65 Despite its rectangular shape and creation from mostly square tesserae, this mosaic incorporates many curves in its composition, particularly for the tails of the tigers. With one cub on her back and two before her, the mother tiger reaches out with one paw and an open mouth, whether to scold or to play. Unlike lions, leopards, and bears, tigers appear relatively rarely in Roman art, with the tigress seen more frequently than her male counterpart. This mosaic includes over ten thousand tesserae, or small cut-stone tiles.
- Maker/Artist
- Maker Unknown
- Classification
- Mosaic
- Formatted Medium
- tesserae
- Medium
- tesserae
- Dimensions
- Overall: 142.9 x 135.4 cm (56 1/4 x 53 5/16 in.)
- Departments
- Greek and Roman Art
- Accession Number
- 1987.65
- Credit Line
- John L. Severance Fund
- Exhibitions
- The Year in Review for 1987, CMA 1988: "Year in Review 1987," CMA Bulletin 75 (February, 1988), p. 65, no. 8.
- Rights Statement
- CC0
- Museum Location
- 103 Roman
Have a concern, a correction, or something to add?
