CA0253 Rare Grand Tour relief plaque of the Temple of Hercules Victor

Rare and fascinating Grand Tour late 19th century German Musterschutz terracotta wall plaque depicting the Temple of Hercules Victor. Oxblood coloured edge with baroque foral decoration and monocromatic cream coloured high relief image of the Piazza Bocca della Verità with the inscription 'Roma Tempio di Vesta Chiesa di Santa Maria del Sole'. The Temple of Hercules Victor is often erroneously called the Temple of Vesta. This circular temple is the oldest preserved marble building in Rome and the the only one surviving in Greek marble. In 1140 it was converted to a church, later rededicated as Santa Maria del Sole (St. Mary of the Sun) until 1935 when the temple was recognised as an ancient monument, dating the plaque prior to 1935. The black reverse stamped 'JM' '1' '5142'. Musterschutz originally marked their wares with a BM but in 1863 they changed this to the now famous JM markings for Johann Maresch. Probably produced at the Baehr and Maresch factory in Aussig an der Elbe around 1890. 

Diameter: 41cm x Depth 4cm