Nemesis

Nemesis Attended by the Genii of Punishment and Reward, Original model in plaster from 1834, subsequently carved in marble for a commission by the banker Mylius, who installed it in memory of his late son in a memorial chapel at Villa Vigoni by Lake Como in northern Italy. In Greek mythology, Nemesis is the goddess of justice. Her chariot is being drawn by two horses. One is obedient (OBBEDIENTE, as it says in Italian on the harness); the other is rearing and disobedient (INOBBEDIENTE). Corresponding to the disobedient horse, we see the genius of punishment, “PENA” (”punishment” in Italian) as it says on the sword he is holding, and corresponding to the obedient horse, we see the genius of reward, identifiable by the word “PREMIO” (reward) inscribed on the horn of plenty that he is holding. On the wheels of the chariot we have: “UBERTA” (wealth), “SVENTURA”, (misfortune), “PENURIA” (poverty) and “VENTURA” (fortune). In the background it is just possible to discern the signs of Libra (the Scale) on top.