Sea Monster

Physical description

Bronze statuette of a sea monster as an inkstand. A fish-tailed monster with human head, holding a cockle shell between its paws; the face, shoulders and paws bordered with leaf like fringes

Place of Origin

Padua (possibly, made)
Ravenna, Italy (possibly, made)

Date

first half of 16th century (made)

Artist/maker

Severo da Ravenna (workshop of, sculptor)

Materials and Techniques

Bronze

Dimensions

Height: 9.8 cm, Width: 14.4 cm, Depth: 21.2 cm

Object history note

From the Salting bequest.

Descriptive line

Statuette, bronze, of a sea monster, workshop of Severo da Ravenna, Italy (Padua), first half of 16th century

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

'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. 5
A guide to the Salting Collection London, 1926, p. 17
Avery, Charles. Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes in the Frick Art Museum, Pittsburgh, 1993, cat. nos. 3 & 4, pp. 38-41
Binnebeke, Emile von. Bronze Sculpture: Sculpture from 1500-1800 in the Collection of the Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum, Rotterdam, 1994, pp. 50-51, cat. no. 4
Davidson, F. Bernice. Severo and the Sea-Monsters, New York, 1997

Exhibition History

Renaissance Bronzes from the V&A (The Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney) 26/10/1982-28/11/1982)
Renaissance Bronzes from the V&A (Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) (Brisbane) 21/06/1982-15/08/1982)

Materials

Bronze

Subjects depicted

Shell; Sea monsters

Categories

Sculpture; Myths & Legends

Collection code

SCP