Venus and Cupid thumbnail 1
Venus and Cupid thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

Venus and Cupid

Plaquette
15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Riccio (artist)
Place of origin
Padua (made)

This double plaquette represents Venus presenting a bow to Cupid and Mercury and Minerva on the reverse. Another example of this double-sided plaquette in an elaborate mounting is in the National Gallery of Art, Washington. They were probably made by a Paduan artist under the direct influence of Andrea Briosco (who is called Riccio) (1470-1532). Three other plaquettes in Berlin are ascribed to the same artist. The winged Venus recurs in the group of larger reliefs ascribed to Bertoldo, as well as in some plaquettes.


Object details

Categories
Plaques & Plaquettes
Sculpture
Object type
Plaquette
TitleVenus and Cupid (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, double sided, bronze, Venus and Cupid, and Mercury and Minerva, School of Riccio, Italy (Padua), 15th century
Physical description
Double sided bronze plaquette depicting Venus and Cupid, and Mercury and Minerva
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.9cm
  • Width: 4.8cm
Credit line
Salting Bequest
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subjects depicted
Venus
Cupid
Minerva
Mercury
Summary
This double plaquette represents Venus presenting a bow to Cupid and Mercury and Minerva on the reverse. Another example of this double-sided plaquette in an elaborate mounting is in the National Gallery of Art, Washington. They were probably made by a Paduan artist under the direct influence of Andrea Briosco (who is called Riccio) (1470-1532). Three other plaquettes in Berlin are ascribed to the same artist. The winged Venus recurs in the group of larger reliefs ascribed to Bertoldo, as well as in some plaquettes.
Bibliographic references
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 65
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 24
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection. Reliefs - Plaquettes - Statuettes - Utensils and Mortars . London: 1965, no. 325
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.418-1910

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Record createdOctober 20, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106621/venus-and-cupid-plaquette-riccio/
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