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Statuette - Neptune

Neptune

  • Object:

    Statuette

  • Place of origin:

    Florence, Italy (possibly, made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1560 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Danti, Vincenzo, born 1530 - died 1576 (possibly, maker)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Cast bronze

  • Museum number:

    A.99-1910

  • Gallery location:

    Medieval and Renaissance, room 62, case 15

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Roman gods and goddesses were popular subjects for sculpture as they could be shown nude. Their elongated yet muscular bodies demonstrate the elegance of the Mannerist style.
Their poses highlight the interest in complicated compositions shared by both artists and patrons. This stauette depicts Neptune the God of water and the sea in Roman mythology.

Physical description

Neptune strides forward on his left foot, his body twisted to the left, looking over his right shoulder. His right arm is raised, his left dropped behind his back. Between his feet is a sea-horse on a huge shell. The narrow base represents waves.

Place of Origin

Florence, Italy (possibly, made)

Date

ca. 1560 (made)

Artist/maker

Danti, Vincenzo, born 1530 - died 1576 (possibly, maker)

Materials and Techniques

Cast bronze

Dimensions

Height: 49.4 cm, Width: 22.1 cm, Depth: 20.3 cm, Weight: 10.48 kg

Object history note

From the Salting bequest.

Descriptive line

Statuette, bronze, Neptune, possibly by Vincenzo Danti, possibly Florence, ca. 1560

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Penny, Nicholas. Catalogue of European Sculpture in the Ashmolean Museum. 1540 to the Present-Day, Vol I Italian, Oxford, 1992, p. 247
Binnebeke, Emile von. Bronze Sculpture: Sculpture from 1500-1800 in the Collection of the Boymans-van-Beuningen Museum, Rotterdam, 1994, pp. 78-79, cat. no. 16
Mariacher, Giovanni. Storia dell' Arte in Italia, La Scultura del Cinquecento, Turin, 1987, p. 187
'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 6

Exhibition History

"La Bellissima Maniera": Alessandro Vittoria e la Scultura Veneta al Cinquecento (Castello del Buonconsiglio (Trento) 25/06/1999-26/09/1999)
Von Allen Seiten Schoen: Bronzen der Renaissance und des Barock (Altes Museum (Berlin) 29/10/1995-31/01/1996)
Italian Art Loan Exhibition (Glasgow Corporation Galleries 01/01/1982-31/12/1983)
Renaissance Bronzes from the V&A (The Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney) 26/10/1982-28/11/1982)
Renaissance Bronzes from the V&A (Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) (Brisbane) 21/06/1982-15/08/1982)

Production Note

Author still unclear, was and is also ascribed to Alessandro Vittoria

Materials

Bronze

Techniques

Casting

Subjects depicted

Shell; Neptune; Sea-horse

Categories

Sculpture; Myths & Legends; Bronze

Collection code

SCP

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Qr_O136693
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