A Perfume Burner With Caryatids thumbnail 1
A Perfume Burner With Caryatids thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Request to view at the Prints & Drawings Study Room, level D , Case EO, Shelf 15

A Perfume Burner With Caryatids

Print
ca. 1490-1534 (engraved)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This engraving shows a perfume burner with caryatids, or supporting columns in the form of a draped female figure. The print is a copied by Marco Dente da Ravenna from an earlier print by Marcantonio Raimondi. The now famous caryatids of the Erectheum in Athens were unknown in the 16th century – these caryatids are probably derived from Roman sculptures in the Greek Style.

The perfume burner was designed about 1515–20 for King Francois I of France. His symbol was the lizard-like salamander, and two salamanders can be seen above the caryatids’ heads.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleA Perfume Burner With Caryatids (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Engraving
Brief description
Print, engraving of a perfume burner with caryatids, by Marco Dente (da Ravenna), reversed copy of a print by Marcantonio Raimondi after Raphael, Italy, about 1520
Physical description
Print, engraving of a perfume burner with caryatids. The perfume burner was designed about 1515-20 for King Francois I of France. The print is a copy of an earlier print by Marcantonio Raimondi.
'La Cassolette'; Two women supporting a richly-chased casket; Print on paper.
Dimensions
  • Cut to height: 30.5cm
  • Cut to width: 14.2cm
Styles
Gallery label
The full text of the label is as follows: "PRINT: A PERFUME BURNER WITH CARYATIDS Italian, about 1520 Engraving by Marco Dente (da Ravenna, died 1527) after Raphael (1483-1520) The perfume burner was designed about 1515-20 for King Françoise I of France, whose badge was the lizard-like salamander. The now famous caryatids of the Erectheum in Athens were unknown in the 16th century - these caryatids are probably derived from Roman sculptures in the Greek style. Marco Dente is copying a print by Marcantonio Raimondi. 29459.8"
Object history
The perfume burner was designed about 1515-20 for King Francois I of France whose badge was the lizard-like salamander. The now famous caryatids of the Erectheum in Athens were unknown in the 16th century - these caryatids are probably derived from Roman sculptures in the Greek Style. Marco Dente is copying a print by Marcantonio Raimondi.
'The original plate but retouched was in existence some short time ago and impressions taken from it were published in the Gazette des Beaux-Arts, vol. xv., p. 268, where it is stated that M. Emile Galichon was the "lucky possessor."'
From: DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum : Printed by G.E. Eyre and W. Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1874.
Production
Reversed copy and reissue
Subjects depicted
Summary
This engraving shows a perfume burner with caryatids, or supporting columns in the form of a draped female figure. The print is a copied by Marco Dente da Ravenna from an earlier print by Marcantonio Raimondi. The now famous caryatids of the Erectheum in Athens were unknown in the 16th century – these caryatids are probably derived from Roman sculptures in the Greek Style.

The perfume burner was designed about 1515–20 for King Francois I of France. His symbol was the lizard-like salamander, and two salamanders can be seen above the caryatids’ heads.
Bibliographic references
  • DYCE COLLECTION. A Catalogue of the Paintings, Miniatures, Drawings, Engravings, Rings and Miscellaneous Objects Bequeathed by The Reverend Alexander Dyce. London : South Kensington Museum : Printed by G.E. Eyre and W. Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1874.
  • Miller, E., 16th-century Italian ornament prints in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1999, p. 215 (cat. 61).
Collection
Accession number
29459:8

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Record createdJune 6, 2005
Record URL
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