Design for a tomb for Pope Leo X
Design
ca. 1521 (made)
ca. 1521 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Design for a tomb for Pope Leo X. It shows a statue of the pope reclining on the top of the monument; the allegorical figures of Hope, Love, Faith and Charity are below. A tablet in the middle is inscribed with the first ten letters of the alphabet and the name 'LEO X'.
The design was probably made by Sansovino in an attempt to obtain the commission for Leo X's tomb, perhaps in the Pope's lifetime, or soon after his death in 1521.
The drawing was part of the collection assembled by John Talman (1677-1726). Talman was the son of the celebrated architect William Talman. From about 1698 he was employed by his father to help assemble material for his extensive collection of architectural drawings, prints and books. A keen traveller, he went to the Continent twice in search of acquisitions. He visited the northern Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy, and he made numerous watercolour copies of altarpieces and churches in Rome.
Talman was back in England in 1715. He was a founder-member of the Tavern Society, London, which later became the Society of Antiquaries, and he was appointed its first director. Like his father, Talman believed in the elevating purpose of art and in the use of art collections for the public good. Although his will indicates that he had wanted his vast collection (which contained over 32,000 prints and drawings), to go to Trinity College, Cambridge, he later changed his mind and instructed that it should be sold for the benefit of his children. A portion of the collection was nonetheless given outright to the Society of Antiquaries, who acquired further items from the auction in London on 19 April 1727.
The design was probably made by Sansovino in an attempt to obtain the commission for Leo X's tomb, perhaps in the Pope's lifetime, or soon after his death in 1521.
The drawing was part of the collection assembled by John Talman (1677-1726). Talman was the son of the celebrated architect William Talman. From about 1698 he was employed by his father to help assemble material for his extensive collection of architectural drawings, prints and books. A keen traveller, he went to the Continent twice in search of acquisitions. He visited the northern Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy, and he made numerous watercolour copies of altarpieces and churches in Rome.
Talman was back in England in 1715. He was a founder-member of the Tavern Society, London, which later became the Society of Antiquaries, and he was appointed its first director. Like his father, Talman believed in the elevating purpose of art and in the use of art collections for the public good. Although his will indicates that he had wanted his vast collection (which contained over 32,000 prints and drawings), to go to Trinity College, Cambridge, he later changed his mind and instructed that it should be sold for the benefit of his children. A portion of the collection was nonetheless given outright to the Society of Antiquaries, who acquired further items from the auction in London on 19 April 1727.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Design for a tomb for Pope Leo X (published title) |
Materials and techniques | Pen and ink and wash |
Brief description | Drawing, Design for a tomb for Pope Leo X, by Andrea Sansovino, Italian School, pen and ink and wash, ca. 1521 |
Physical description | Design for a tomb for Pope Leo X. It shows a statue of the pope reclining on the top of the monument; the allegorical figures of Hope, Love, Faith and Charity are below. A tablet in the middle is inscribed with the first ten letters of the alphabet and the name 'LEO X'. |
Dimensions |
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Style | |
Production type | Unique |
Marks and inscriptions | A tablet in the middle of the design is inscribed with the first ten letters of the alphabet and the name 'Leo X'; a later inscription (in the lower left corner), probably in the hand of J. Talman, reads 'Giov. Dosio' |
Object history | J. Talman (Lugt, Supplement 2886A, which is Talman's mark); Sir T. Lawrence (Lugt 2445); S. Woodburn (sale, Christie, 4-14 June 1860; bought by the Museum) |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Design for a tomb for Pope Leo X. It shows a statue of the pope reclining on the top of the monument; the allegorical figures of Hope, Love, Faith and Charity are below. A tablet in the middle is inscribed with the first ten letters of the alphabet and the name 'LEO X'. The design was probably made by Sansovino in an attempt to obtain the commission for Leo X's tomb, perhaps in the Pope's lifetime, or soon after his death in 1521. The drawing was part of the collection assembled by John Talman (1677-1726). Talman was the son of the celebrated architect William Talman. From about 1698 he was employed by his father to help assemble material for his extensive collection of architectural drawings, prints and books. A keen traveller, he went to the Continent twice in search of acquisitions. He visited the northern Netherlands, France, Germany and Italy, and he made numerous watercolour copies of altarpieces and churches in Rome. Talman was back in England in 1715. He was a founder-member of the Tavern Society, London, which later became the Society of Antiquaries, and he was appointed its first director. Like his father, Talman believed in the elevating purpose of art and in the use of art collections for the public good. Although his will indicates that he had wanted his vast collection (which contained over 32,000 prints and drawings), to go to Trinity College, Cambridge, he later changed his mind and instructed that it should be sold for the benefit of his children. A portion of the collection was nonetheless given outright to the Society of Antiquaries, who acquired further items from the auction in London on 19 April 1727. |
Bibliographic references |
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Other number | PWJ 312 - Ward Jackson Catalogue Number |
Collection | |
Accession number | 2260 |
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Record created | August 17, 2007 |
Record URL |
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