Design for the tomb of a cardinal with the arms of Julius II on top, and a scale underneath thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level H , Case PD, Shelf 332

Design for the tomb of a cardinal with the arms of Julius II on top, and a scale underneath

Architectural Design
1470-1529 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Pen and ink and wash drawing on paper


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDesign for the tomb of a cardinal with the arms of Julius II on top, and a scale underneath (published title)
Materials and techniques
Pen and ink and wash
Brief description
Drawing, Design for the tomb of a cardinal with the arms of Julius II on top, and a scale underneath, by Andrea Sansovino, Italian School, pen and ink and wash, late 15th century-early 16th century
Physical description
Pen and ink and wash drawing on paper
Dimensions
  • Height: 371mm (from catalogue)
  • Width: 251mm (from catalogue)
Style
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
Inscribed in ink in an old hand, probably that of J. Talman, 'Giov. Dosio'
Gallery label
Andrea Sansovino (1467 or 1470-1529) Design for the tomb of a Cardinal Italian, about 1509 Pen and ink and wash Sansovino was a Florentine sculptor, who went to Rome in 155. Within four years he had been commissioned by Pope Julius II to design the tombs of two cardinals, Girolamo Basso della Rovere, and Ascanio Sforza, in S. Maria del Popolo, Rome. The arms of Pope Julius II are show at the top of the tomb. This drawing was once in the collection formed in the early 18th century by John and William Talman. Their mark, composed of interlocking 'T's is in the cartouche at the lower right of the design. 8621
Object history
PROVENANCE J. Talman (Lugt, Supplement 2884A, which is Talman's mark); bought 1880 from A. W. Thibaudeau (on whom see Lugt 2473)
Bibliographic references
  • Iotti, Alessandra Bigi. The Burlington Magazine. "Andrea Sansovino and the design for a funerary monument for Leo X". No. 1268, Vol. CL: November 2008, pp. 757-759.
  • Ward-Jackson, Peter, Italian Drawings, Volume One: 14th-16th Century, London, 1979, cat. 311, p. 147, illus. The following is the full text of the entry: SANSOVINO, ANDREA Andrea Contucci (1467/70 - 1529) 311 Design for the tomb of a cardinal with the arms of Julius II on top, and a scale underneath Inscribed in ink in an old hand, probably that of J Talman, 'Giov. Dosio' Pen and ink and wash 14 5/8 x 9 7/8 (371 x 251) 8621 PROVENANCE J. Talman (Lugt, Supplement 2884A, which is Talman's mark); bought 1880 from A. W. Thibaudeau (on whom see Lugt 2473) LITERATURE U. Middeldorf, 'Two Sansovino drawings' in The Burlington Magazine, 64, 1934, pp. 159-64, and fig. C; G. H. Huntley, Andrea Sansovino, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1935, pp. 97-101, and fig. 70; Venturi, 11, part 1, p. 172 and fig. 151; R. U. Montini, Le tombe dei Papi, Rome, 1957, p. 312 and fig. 122 Middeldorf first pointed out that the old attribution to Dosio does not fit the early cinquecento style of the architecture, and he suggested that Sansovino was the artist. A similar design at Weimar, also from the Talman collection, is probably by the same hand (Huntley, loc. cit. fig. 71). Both tombs are surmounted by the arms of Julius II and have other features in common; but the Weimar monument is lower by one storey and the figures on each side of the sarcophagus stand on the podium against the pillars of the arch, instead of in niches. The della Rovere arms suggest a connection with the tombs made by Sansovino at the command of Julius II for the cardinals Girolamo Basso della Rovere and Asanio Sforza in S. Maria del Popolo, Rome; and the tombs themselves bear a close enough resemblance to the two drawings to prove that the connection exists. The drawings presumably represent an early stage in the working out of the designs. They are not necessarily by the hand of Sansovino himself, but might be by an assistant. No. 312, another design for a tomb, also from the Talman collection and inscribed with the name of Dosio, probably comes from the same studio, though perhaps by a different hand.
  • p.246-7. Norma e capriccio. Spagnoli in Italia agli esordi della "maniera moderma". Firenze, Galleria degli Uffizi, 2013. ISBN: 9788809783423.
Collection
Accession number
8621

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 30, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest