Christ bearing the Cross
Plaquette
after 1525 (made), first half of 16th century (made)
after 1525 (made), first half of 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Plaquettes are small reliefs 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 or devotional purposes, such as decorations for caskets, ink-stands and paxes. Belli spent the most important part of his career in Rome, working for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone. This plaquette derives from a set of such engravings which were once set in the base of a rock crystal crucifix. The bronze would have been cast from a plaster or brass mould made from the original engraving.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Christ bearing the Cross (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Plaquette, bronze, depicting Christ bearing the cross, by Valerio Belli, after 1525, Italy |
| Physical description | Oval bronze plaquette with scene of Christ carrying the cross over his shoulder, dragged along by one soldier and pushed by another. In the background a crowd of figures, some on horse-back. St. Veronica kneels at the left holding the veil with the image of Christ's face on it. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscription: VALERIVS.VICENTINVS.F (Inscription in relief in exergue)
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| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | From the Salting bequest. Historical significance: Cast from a mould made of an engraved intaglio rock crystal plaque by Valerio Belli in the Vatican Museum which was originally mounted with other oval reliefs of the Betrayal of Christ and the Entombment in the base of a rock crystal Crucifx. For other examples of the plaquette see Burns et al, 2000 |
| Historical context | Shows how images known from engraved gems and hardstones persisted and often appeared again in bronze plaquettes and small reliefs. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Place depicted | |
| Summary | Plaquettes are small reliefs 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 or devotional purposes, such as decorations for caskets, ink-stands and paxes. Belli spent the most important part of his career in Rome, working for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone. This plaquette derives from a set of such engravings which were once set in the base of a rock crystal crucifix. The bronze would have been cast from a plaster or brass mould made from the original engraving. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.478-1910 |
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| Record created | November 14, 2006 |
| Record URL |
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