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

David Triumphant over Goliath

Plaquette
1500-1520 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

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.

Moderno was one of the most prolific and successful Renaissance artists to work with plaquettes. The composition of this example represents Virtue defeating Tyranny. It is a rare design and few versions are known.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDavid Triumphant over Goliath (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, by Moderno, Italy, 1500-20
Physical description
David with the head of Goliath; in the background a nude figure is measuring the fallen giant.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 10.48cm
Subjects depicted
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.

Moderno was one of the most prolific and successful Renaissance artists to work with plaquettes. The composition of this example represents Virtue defeating Tyranny. It is a rare design and few versions are known.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1855. 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. 75
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 28
Collection
Accession number
896-1855

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Record createdMay 10, 2005
Record URL
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