Torso of a baby thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Torso of a baby

Wax Model
1625-1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Du Quesnoy, François (sculptor)
Place of origin
Rome (made)

Traditionally ascribed to Du Quesnoy, the model is too mutilated to allow a positive ascription. However, comparison with the figures of putti on Du Quesnoy's tombs of Andrien Vryburch (1629) and Ferdinand van den Eynde (1633-40), both in the Santa Maria dell'Anima at Rome, strongly suggests that he was in fact the author of this model.

Formerly in the Gherardini Collection of artists’ terracotta and wax models. Acquired in 1854.


Object details

Category
Sculpture
Object type
Wax model
TitleTorso of a baby (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Red wax
Wax
Brief description
Red wax model of the torso of a baby, probably by François Du Quesnoy, Italy (Rome), 1625-50
Physical description
Red wax model of a winged boy, the body slightly turned, the left shoulder raised. The head, arms and feet are missing and the model has been broken below both knees
Dimensions
  • Height: 145mm
Object history
Formerly in the Gherardini Collection of artists’ terracotta and wax models Acquired in 1854

Historical significance: Traditionally ascribed to Du Quesnoy, the model is too mutilated to allow a positive ascription. However, comparison with the figures of putti on Du Quesnoy's tombs of Andrien Vryburch (1629) and Ferdinand van den Eynde (1633-40), both in the Santa Maria dell'Anima at Rome, strongly suggests that he was in fact the author of this model.
Production
Traditionally ascribed to Du Quesnoy, the model is too mutilated to allow a positive ascription. However, comparison with the figures of putti on Du Quesnoy's tombs of Andrien Vryburch (1629) and Ferdinand van den Eynde (1633-40), both in the Santa Maria dell'Anima at Rome, strongly suggests that he was in fact the author of this model.
Subject depicted
Baby
Summary
Traditionally ascribed to Du Quesnoy, the model is too mutilated to allow a positive ascription. However, comparison with the figures of putti on Du Quesnoy's tombs of Andrien Vryburch (1629) and Ferdinand van den Eynde (1633-40), both in the Santa Maria dell'Anima at Rome, strongly suggests that he was in fact the author of this model.

Formerly in the Gherardini Collection of artists’ terracotta and wax models. Acquired in 1854.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1854. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 19
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 153
  • Laurent, M. Quelques Oeuvres Inédites de François Duquesnoy. Gazette des Beaux-Arts, May 1923, pp. 296-297 (fig).
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 595
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
4131-1854

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Record createdAugust 25, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102736/torso-of-a-baby-wax-model-du-quesnoy-françois/
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