An Allegory of Destiny or Fame
Plaque
16th century (made)
16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bronze plaquette originates from the school of Riccio and is made in Italy at the beginning of the 16th century.
The plaquette is designed for insertion in a sand-box or inkstand.
Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.
Riccio (meaning 'Curly-Head') worked primarily in bronze and is acknowledged as the master of the bronze statuette during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was active in the humanist circle of the University of Padua, in north-east Italy.
His statuettes, functional objects, like oil lamps, and reliefs reflect Riccio's inimitable ability to express the most refined humanist ideas prevalent in the Veneto in bronze.
He was also a specialist in rendering themes of Classical mythology.
His oeuvre is often neglected because of its small scale, but it constitutes one of the most fascinating manifestations of the poetic paganism of the High Renaissance.
The plaquette is designed for insertion in a sand-box or inkstand.
Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.
Riccio (meaning 'Curly-Head') worked primarily in bronze and is acknowledged as the master of the bronze statuette during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was active in the humanist circle of the University of Padua, in north-east Italy.
His statuettes, functional objects, like oil lamps, and reliefs reflect Riccio's inimitable ability to express the most refined humanist ideas prevalent in the Veneto in bronze.
He was also a specialist in rendering themes of Classical mythology.
His oeuvre is often neglected because of its small scale, but it constitutes one of the most fascinating manifestations of the poetic paganism of the High Renaissance.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | An Allegory of Destiny or Fame (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Plaque in bronze, trapezoidal, with an allegorical scene, by Riccio, Italy, 16th century. |
| Physical description | To the right is the seated figure of a veiled woman, before whom stands a child holding a bowl from which issues a serpent. In the centre Cronos seated on a lion, is holding in his left hand a sphere (?) and in the right a club. To the left a winged figure (Fame?) seated on a globe, is writing on a shield. narrow double moulded border above. Brown patina. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | To the right is the seated figure of a veiled woman, before whom stands a child holding a bowl from which issues a serpent. In the centre Cronos seated on a lion, is holding in his left hand a sphere (?) and in the right a club. To the left a winged figure (Fame?) seated on a globe, is writing on a shield. narrow double moulded border above |
| Historical context | The plaquette is designed for insertion in a sand-box or inkstand. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bronze plaquette originates from the school of Riccio and is made in Italy at the beginning of the 16th century. The plaquette is designed for insertion in a sand-box or inkstand. Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings. Riccio (meaning 'Curly-Head') worked primarily in bronze and is acknowledged as the master of the bronze statuette during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was active in the humanist circle of the University of Padua, in north-east Italy. His statuettes, functional objects, like oil lamps, and reliefs reflect Riccio's inimitable ability to express the most refined humanist ideas prevalent in the Veneto in bronze. He was also a specialist in rendering themes of Classical mythology. His oeuvre is often neglected because of its small scale, but it constitutes one of the most fascinating manifestations of the poetic paganism of the High Renaissance. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1081-1855 |
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| Record created | April 24, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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