Juilus Caesar thumbnail 1
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 62A, Discover the Renaissance World

Juilus Caesar

Roundel
second half of fifteenth century (possibly)
Artist/Maker
Della Robbia (workshop of)
Place of origin
Florence (city) (made)
Italy (made)

The profile portrait, inspired by ancient Roman models, often appears in Italian Renaissance art. It might show a famous Roman ruler or statesman – Julius Caesar or Cicero for example. This circular relief medallion is made by the workshop of the Della Robbia in Florence in second half of fifteenth century. The Della Robbia was an Italian family of sculptors and potters. They were active in Florence from the early 15th century and elsewhere in Italy and France well into the 16th. Luca della Robbia founded the family sculpture workshop in Florence and was regarded by contemporaries as a leading artistic innovator, comparable to Donatello and Masaccio.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Portraits
Medallions
Object type
Roundel
TitleJuilus Caesar (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Enamelled terracotta
Terracotta
Enamelled
Brief description
Roundel with a profile portrait of Julius Ceasar in enamelled terracotta
Physical description
Circular relief in enamelled terracotta. The head is in profile looking to the right and is crowned with a representation of a laurel wreath. The portrait terminates at the shoulders. The figure wears a toga fastened by a circular brooch.
Dimensions
  • Depth: 6.1cm
  • Diameter: 38.4cm
  • Weight: 5.7kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Style
Renaissance
Object history
On acquistion the relief was described as a 'profile bust of Julius Caesar in relief' and was dated ca. 1500. Pope-Hennessy retained the identification with Caesar in his Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Production
This roundel has been dated variously by different scholars. On aquisition the relief was dated ca. 1500. The latest date recorded in the Sculpture Department files is early 16th century.
Subjects depicted
Wreaths (Costume Accessories)
Togas
Emperors
Julius Caesar
Summary
The profile portrait, inspired by ancient Roman models, often appears in Italian Renaissance art. It might show a famous Roman ruler or statesman – Julius Caesar or Cicero for example. This circular relief medallion is made by the workshop of the Della Robbia in Florence in second half of fifteenth century. The Della Robbia was an Italian family of sculptors and potters. They were active in Florence from the early 15th century and elsewhere in Italy and France well into the 16th. Luca della Robbia founded the family sculpture workshop in Florence and was regarded by contemporaries as a leading artistic innovator, comparable to Donatello and Masaccio.
Bibliographic references
  • John Pope-Hennessy, Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, HMSO, 1964), Vol I, Cat No. 267, p253
  • John Pope-Hennessy, Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum (London, HMSO, 1964), Vol III, Figure 270.
  • J C Robinson, Italian Sculpture of the Middle Ages and period of the revival of art. A descriptive catalogue of the works forming the above section of the Museum with additional illustrative notices (London, 1862), p61
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1856. 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. 11
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 83
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
2555-1856

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Record createdAugust 18, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O127249/juilus-caesar-roundel-della-robbia/
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