Two Cupids thumbnail 1
Two Cupids thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64, The Wolfson Gallery

Two Cupids

Plaquette
1535-1540 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
Germany (made)

The unknown artist who created the small plaquette has adapted the design in Barthel Beham's engraving. He modified it by tightening the scrolls araund the vase and changing the position of the head of the putto on the right. The foliage on either side of the putti was omitted.


Object details

Categories
Plaques & Plaquettes
Sculpture
Object type
Plaquette
TitleTwo Cupids (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silvered bronze
Bronze
Cast
Silvering
Brief description
Silvered bronze plaquette depicting two cupids, Germany, ca.1535-1540
Physical description
Cast bronze depicting two winged putti flanking a vase in the centre which is surrounded by flowers which form the shape of a heart. The vase is surmounted by a basin with flames.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.4cm
  • Width: 5.9cmcm
  • Depth: 0.4cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Object history
Unknown

Historical significance: The present plaquette is based on an engraving by Barthel Beham (1502-1540) which shows the impact of the Italianate or Welsh ornament in Germany in the first half of the sixteenth century.
Historical context
Plaquettes such as this were widely disseminated. Their models was often made in Solnhofen stone which was then copied in lead or bronze for the use of goldsmiths.
Subject depicted
Cupids
Summary
The unknown artist who created the small plaquette has adapted the design in Barthel Beham's engraving. He modified it by tightening the scrolls araund the vase and changing the position of the head of the putto on the right. The foliage on either side of the putti was omitted.
Bibliographic references
  • I. Weber, Deutsche, Niederländische und Französische Renaissanceplaketten, Munich, 1975, p. 146, cat. no. 226.
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1861 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. 31
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
7426-1861

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Record createdDecember 28, 2006
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O130542/two-cupids-plaquette-unknown/
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