Not currently on display at the V&A

Child with a book

Statuette
17th century possibly (made)
Artist/Maker
Duquesnoy (sculptor)
Place of origin
Roman (made)

This statuette in terarcotta is traditionally ascribed to François Duquesnoy, made in the first half of the 17th century.

It shows a naked child seated frontally, with a large book in his arms. The neck is broken and repaired. Both legs are broken off below the knee.

Purchased in Florence from the Gherardini Collection.


Object details

Category
Sculpture
Object type
Statuette
TitleChild with a book (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Terracotta
Terracotta
Brief description
Statuette in terracotta "Child with a Book", by François Duquesnoy, first half of 17th century, Italo-Flemish
Physical description
Statuette in terracotta. The naked child is seated frontally, with a large book in his arms. Neck broken and repaired. Both legs broken off below the knee.
Dimensions
  • Height: 9.4cm
Object history
Purchased in Florence from the Gherardini Collection
Production
Italo-Flemish
Subjects depicted
Child
Book
Summary
This statuette in terarcotta is traditionally ascribed to François Duquesnoy, made in the first half of the 17th century.

It shows a naked child seated frontally, with a large book in his arms. The neck is broken and repaired. Both legs are broken off below the knee.

Purchased in Florence from the Gherardini Collection.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1854. 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. 19
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. Text. London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1932, p. 153
  • Laurent, M. Quelques Oeuvres Inédites de François Duquesnoy. Gazette des Beaux-Arts, MAy 1923, pp. 297, 299 (fig)
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 594
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
4130-1854

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Record createdApril 16, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O152735/child-with-a-book-statuette-duquesnoy/
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