Introduction

Found by chance in rural Normandy in 1830, the Berthouville Treasure is a spectacular group of silver objects dedicated to the Gallo-Roman god Mercury. Weighing over fifty pounds, it con­sists of vessels with mythological and Homeric decoration, two statuettes of the deity, and other offerings deposited in his sanc­tuary at Canetonum between the first and the third centuries CE.While most of the items were made expressly for Mercury, some apparently were used in life and repurposed as votive gifts. Presented by Romans as well as indigenous Gauls, they reveal much about religion, cultural interaction, technology, and art­istry at the height of the Roman Empire.

Surviving artifacts not only demonstrate the skills of Roman and Gallic craftsmen, but also provide valuable information about social and political relations between Rome and the provinces

As their empire expanded, the ancient Romans amassed great wealth and developed a taste for luxurious objects fash­ioned from precious materials imported from afar—gold, silver, hard stones, and colored marbles. Domestic opulence and personal adornment were markers of status, leisure, and refine­ment. Elite individuals dined from finely wrought vessels, wore elaborate jewelry, collected carved gems, and embellished their surroundings with impressive statuary, reliefs, and furniture. Such objects were also dedicated to the gods and deposited in tombs, in each case bringing prestige to their owners. Many items were decorated in Greek style with mythological scenes, adding cultural cachet to their monetary value. Surviving artifacts not only demonstrate the skills of Roman and Gallic craftsmen, but also provide valuable information about social and political relations between Rome and the provinces.

Formed from the collections of the kings of France and other antiquarians, the Cabinet des médailles (now the Département des Monnaies, médailles et antiques) of the Bibliothèque nationale de France is one of the premier reposito­ries of ancient luxury arts, and acquired the Berthouville Treasure after its discovery in the nineteenth century. This exhibition presents a variety of objects from the Bibliothèque’s collection, including the entire Berthouville Treasure—newly restored after recently undergoing four years of study and conservation at the Getty Villa in Malibu, California.

This exhibition is made possible by generous support from the Selz Foundation, The Achelis and Bodman Foundation, and the Leon Levy Foundation. Additional funding was provided by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation.

Exhibit presented by the Bibliothèque nationale de France in partnership with the Institute for the Study of the Ancient World.