Sunday, December 5, 2021

Lasciate ogni pensiero o voi ch'intrate

The Sacro Bosco is a 16th century garden commissioned by Vicino Orsini in Viterbo, Italy. The fantastical renaissance garden has inspired the likes of Salvador Dali and Jean Cocteau among others. An interesting article on the history and significance of the garden appears in Studies in the History of Gardens & Designed Landscapes and is available online.

One of the most iconic sculptures in the garden is the Mouth of Orcus, which seems to be a particular favorite of many artists. In old photographs, it is often referred to as la Bocca dell'Inferno (the Mouth of Hell).

c. 1930

Salvador Dali nel
"giardino dei mostri"
, 1948

Mostro im Garten des Palazzo Orsin
Herbert List, 1952

Il Castello dei morti vivi, 1964

A model of the Mouth of Orcus comes with the Sons of Orcus box set for Gangs of Rome.



The model does not have the inscription over the mouth, but I think it looks better that way.

VC People: Ogni Pensiero Vola
(All Thoughts Fly)

Many of the painted models I've seen are colored a verdigris green, like the studio model, but the actual scuplture is constructed of gray peperino (and covered in green moss).


I plan on using the model in a larger terrain piece, most likely set in a wall, but I'm quite curious about what the actual sculpture looks like from the top and the rear.


If I get the chance to visit Italy again, the Sacro Bosco is definitely one of the places that will be on my itinerary.


2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I ever found that "OGNI PENSIERO VOLA" was nonsense while "LASCIATE OGNI PENSIERO O VOI CH'INTRATE" was the most likely original phase carved around the mouth (quoting Dante's Inferno) . How did you find out?

EY said...

Hi Anon,
I didn't realize that there was controversy over the words that were carved on the sculpture. My use of "Lasciate ogni pensiero o voi ch'intrate" was inspired by art of L'Orco by the artist Nicolás Arispe from his book titled after the phrase.