The Acanthus leaf is among the most frequent architectural motifs encountered in Roman architecture, with its origins in the Greek classical one (ie the capital of the Corinthian style columns), used in Romanesque, Byzantine, and even Gothic, resurrected on a large scale by the Renaissance, then a staple of Baroque and Rococo, and essential in Neo-Classicism. Here is how the leaf looks in its natural state, as a plant, in a patch of Acanthus next to the amphitheatre of Italica, the Roman colony founded by Scipio Africanus, not far from contemporary Seville.
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I endeavour through this series of periodic articles to inspire appreciation of the historic houses of Romania, a virtually undiscovered, but fascinating chapter of European architectural history and heritage.
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If you plan acquiring or selling a historic property in Romania or start a renovation project, I would be delighted to advice you in sourcing and transacting the property, specialist research, etc. To discuss your particular plan please see my contact details in the Contact page of this weblog.
Valentin Mandache, architectural historian 