The Education of Cupid
Relief
late 15th or early 16th century (made)
late 15th or early 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a bronze relief ascribed to Vittore Gambello (Camelio), made in Venice or Padua in the late 15th or early 16th century. The relief represents Vulcan forging the wings of Cupid while Cupid is instructed by Mercury. Minerva, Mars and other gods are also introduced.
Two versions exist: one is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and another is in the Ca d'Oro in Venice. This relief might reproduce a lost original for on both versions an execution of detail is missing. In around 1495 the relief was apparently well known in Venice as it is described by Francesco Colonna and even copied by Carpaccio. The relief is ascribed to Camelio, but this attribution has not been confirmed.
Camelio, also called Vittore Gambello, was a Venetian sculptor, goldsmith, coin-engraver, founder and medallist (b. 1460; d. 1539). His career extended from 1484 - 1523. The invention of cutting dies in steel is attributed to him. This technique allowed more minute work to be introduced into medals, marking a new era in medallic engraving.
Two versions exist: one is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and another is in the Ca d'Oro in Venice. This relief might reproduce a lost original for on both versions an execution of detail is missing. In around 1495 the relief was apparently well known in Venice as it is described by Francesco Colonna and even copied by Carpaccio. The relief is ascribed to Camelio, but this attribution has not been confirmed.
Camelio, also called Vittore Gambello, was a Venetian sculptor, goldsmith, coin-engraver, founder and medallist (b. 1460; d. 1539). His career extended from 1484 - 1523. The invention of cutting dies in steel is attributed to him. This technique allowed more minute work to be introduced into medals, marking a new era in medallic engraving.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Education of Cupid (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Relief, bronze, Vulcan forging the wings of Cupid, ascribed to Vittore Gambello (Camelio), Venetian, late 15th or early 16th century |
| Physical description | Vulcan repairing the wings of Cupid, and Cupid instructed by Mercury. Minerva, Mars and other gods are introduced. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | This object was purchased in 1865 for £19 from a sale at the Pourtalès Collection in Paris, where many Italian art objects were being sold as a result of their flooding the market after the Napolenic wars. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a bronze relief ascribed to Vittore Gambello (Camelio), made in Venice or Padua in the late 15th or early 16th century. The relief represents Vulcan forging the wings of Cupid while Cupid is instructed by Mercury. Minerva, Mars and other gods are also introduced. Two versions exist: one is in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum and another is in the Ca d'Oro in Venice. This relief might reproduce a lost original for on both versions an execution of detail is missing. In around 1495 the relief was apparently well known in Venice as it is described by Francesco Colonna and even copied by Carpaccio. The relief is ascribed to Camelio, but this attribution has not been confirmed. Camelio, also called Vittore Gambello, was a Venetian sculptor, goldsmith, coin-engraver, founder and medallist (b. 1460; d. 1539). His career extended from 1484 - 1523. The invention of cutting dies in steel is attributed to him. This technique allowed more minute work to be introduced into medals, marking a new era in medallic engraving. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 67-1865 |
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| Record created | April 1, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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