An Allegory of Prophecy (King Numa and Augurs)

attributed to Antonio Palma (Venice c.1515 - before 1585). Oil painting on canvas, An Allegory of Prophecy (King Numa and Augurs), attributed to Antonio Palma (c.1515 - before 1585), circa 1575/1600. One of two pictures then attributed to ‘Bonifacio’, acquired by William John Bankes (1786-1855) in 1849 off the ceiling of the Palazzo Capello a San Felice in Venice and intended for the ceiling of the Library. Its message was identified by an old inscription as Sapientiam antiquorum exquivet sapiens et in prophetis vacbit [The wise man seeks out the wisdom of the Ancients, and has leisure for the prophets]. Here the wisdom of the Ancients appears to be exemplified by the philosopher-king Numa (? here given a fleurdelysé crown, possibly emblematic of Henri III, who returned via Venice from the throne of Poland to that of France in 1574) presiding over the Augurs foretelling the future from the flight of birds. Numa Pompilius was the legendary second king of Rome, successor to Romulus. Numa traditionally ruled 715-673 BC; a long reign of peace. He was credited with the foundation of the Roman religious system and the reform of the Roman calendar, inspired, it was said, with wise advice from his lover, the water-nymph Egeria. Kingston Lacy Estate, Dorset (Accredited Museum)