Pen on paper, mounted

16.7 cm. by 12.4 cm.

Inscribed lower left ‘Mycaene [sic] . Gate of the lions.’

Circa 1840

The Gate of the Lions was the main entrance to the Bronze Age citadel of Mycenae in southern Greece. Constructed around 1250 BCE, it is the largest surviving example of Mycenean monumental sculpture. It remained visible throughout its history and drew comment from Pausanius in the 2nd century AD.

In 1840, the Greek Archaeological Society began work to clear soil and other debris from the site. Since the door is still blocked in. Cromek’s drawing, it was probably made prior to 1840.

SOLD