Not currently on display at the V&A

Christ in the tomb between the Virgin and St John

Plaquette
ca. 1500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Schwaben (made)
Ulm (made)

This bronze plaquette representing the dead Christ between the Virgin and St John was probably made in South Germany, possibly Schwaben or Ulm, in about 1500. The composition has been associated with a painting ascribed to the school of the painter and sculptor of Hans Mulscher of Ulm (ca. 1400-67). There are several versions of this relief are known to survive and the composition seen in this relief was widely disseminated and was probably used over several decades. If the painting attributed to Multscher is indeed the prototype for these reliefs, it is possible that Multscher or a member of his workshop was involved in the making of the model.


Object details

Categories
Christianity
Sculpture
Object type
Plaquette
Titles
  • Christ in the tomb between the Virgin and St John (generic title)
  • Imago pietatis (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, depicting the dead Christ between the Virgin & St.John, South Germany, 15th century
Physical description
Rectangular bronze plaquette depicting the dead Christ between the Virgin & St.John, above are three angels holding a shroud.
Dimensions
  • Height: 10cm
  • Width: 7.5cm
  • Depth: 0.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
'ECCE AGNUS DEI' (engraved on the rim of the tomb)
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Production
Based on a painting of the School of Hans Multscher dated 1457
Subjects depicted
Angels
Jesus Christ
St. John the Evangelist
Mary (Virgin Mary)
The Entombment
Summary
This bronze plaquette representing the dead Christ between the Virgin and St John was probably made in South Germany, possibly Schwaben or Ulm, in about 1500. The composition has been associated with a painting ascribed to the school of the painter and sculptor of Hans Mulscher of Ulm (ca. 1400-67). There are several versions of this relief are known to survive and the composition seen in this relief was widely disseminated and was probably used over several decades. If the painting attributed to Multscher is indeed the prototype for these reliefs, it is possible that Multscher or a member of his workshop was involved in the making of the model.
Bibliographic references
  • Jopek, Nobert. German Sculpture 1430-1540: A Catalogue of the Collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: V&A Publications, 2002. cat. no. 31. pp. 79-80.
  • Wixom, W. D. Renaissance bronzes from Ohio collections. Cleveland, 1975. no. 11.
  • Pope-Hennessy, J. Renaissance bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection: reliefs, plaquettes, utensils and mortars. London, 1965. no. 334.
  • Geber, A. Name inscriptions: solution or problem? In: Luchs, A. ed. Italian plaquettes. Washington D. C. , 1989. pp. 247-263.
  • Weber, I. Deutsche, Niederländische und Französische Renaissanceplaketten. Munich, 1975. p. 49. no. 6.
  • Cf. Tripps, M. Hans Multscher: seine Ulmer Schaffenszeit. Weissenhorn, 1969. cat. no. 21. pls. 252-3.
  • Cf. Hnas Multscher: Bildhauer der Spätgotik in Ulm. Ulm, 1997. no. 669/6.
  • Cf. Molinier, É. Les plaquettes. Paris, 1886. vol. II. no. 722.
  • Cf. Bange, E. F. ed. Staatliche Museen zu Berlin. Die Bildwerke des Deutschen Museums. Zweitter Band. Die Bildwerke in Bronze und in Anderen Metallen. Berlin and Leipzig, 1923. no. 1504. p. 70. pl. 2.
  • Cf. Bode, W. Die Sammlung Oscar Hainauer. Berlin, 1897. no. 183.
  • Cf. Gerstenberg, K. Hans Multscher. Leipzig: Insel-Verlag, 1928. p. 217.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.20-1930

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Record createdFebruary 24, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O109585/christ-in-the-tomb-between-plaquette-unknown/
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