The “Battle of Zama” after Giulio Romano: A Tapestry in the American Academy in Rome

Ever since the American Academy in Rome reopened its doors after World War II in 1946/1947, fellows and visitors have been greeted by a large tapestry with a battle scene on the south wall of the common room, better known as the salone. That this piece never seems to have commanded the interest of art historians in residence at the Academy was probably due to the Gobelin’s faded colors and poor state of conservation. A recent cleaning and expert repair, however, have revealed the superior quality of hanging and encouraged its investigation.