Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

St George and the Dragon

Plaquette
1475-1500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Enzola (makers)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440s with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector’s pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.
Enzola was the Master of the Mint in Ferrara. This plaquette is cast from the impression of the episcopal seal of Lorenzo Roverella, Bishop of Ferrara from 1460 to 1474.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Plaques & Plaquettes
Myths & Legends
Object type
Plaquette
TitleSt George and the Dragon (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, Saint George and the dragon, probably by Giovanni Francesco Enzola, North Italy, ca. 1475-1500
Physical description
St. George on a horse spearing the dragon, Princess Sabra watching. Background of Gothic tracery. In the exergue a triple arcade with a kneeling bishop between two shields of arms. Inscription.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.6cm
  • Width: 5.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'S . DNI . LAVRENTII . ROVERELLE . D . GRACIA . EPISCOPI . FERRAIE' (in the exergue)
Object history
From the Salting bequest.

Historical significance: The image derives from the impression of the episcopal seal of Lorenzo Roverella, Bishop of Ferrara (1460-74).
Subjects depicted
Dragon
Princess
Bishop
Arcade
St. George
Summary
Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440s with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector’s pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.
Enzola was the Master of the Mint in Ferrara. This plaquette is cast from the impression of the episcopal seal of Lorenzo Roverella, Bishop of Ferrara from 1460 to 1474.
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. 72
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 46
  • Trusted, Marjorie, ed. The Making of Sculpture. The Materials and Techniques of European Sculpture. London: 2007, p. 81, pl. 128
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.457-1910

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Record createdMay 9, 2005
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O111872/st-george-and-the-dragon-plaquette-enzola/
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