Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 117

The Flight into Egypt

Medallion
ca. 1526 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This circular relief in bronze is possibly made by Maffeo Olivieri ca. 1526 in Italy.

The roundel, which was formerly gilt, appears to have been designed for insertion into a marble panel, probably on a tomb. It finds close analogies in the roundels on the tomb of Marcantonio Martinegro (d. 1526) by Maffeo Olivieri, formerly on the left wall of the presbytery of the church of Corpo di Cristo, now in the Museo Christiano at Brescia.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Flight into Egypt (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze, formerly gilt
Brief description
Medallion Plaque, The Flight into Egypt, by Maffeo Olivieri, Italy, Brecia, ca. 1526
Physical description
Circular relief in bronze. The scene takes place in a rocky landscape. In the centre are the Virgin and Child seated on an ass. With his left hand the Child picks a fruit from a tree above and behind the group. To the right is St. Joseph with the leading rein of the ass in his right hand and a staff and bundle held over his shoulder in the left. To the left the ass is followed by a foal. In the background are tow lions and a gryphon.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 25.7cm
Marks and inscriptions
Circular relief in bronze. The scene takes place in a rocky landscape. In the centre are the Virgin and Child seated on an ass. With his left hand the Child picks a fruit from a tree above and behind the group. To the right is St. Joseph with the leading rein of the ass in his right hand and a staff and bundle held over his shoulder in the left. To the left the ass is followed by a foal. In the background are tow lions and a gryphon.
Object history
The roundel, which was formerly gilt, appears to have been designed for insertion into a marble panel, probably on a tomb. It finds close analogies in the roundels on the tomb of Marcantonio Martinegro (d. 1526) by Maffeo Olivieri, formerly on the left wall of the presbytery of the church of Corpo di Cristo, now in the Museo Christiano at Brescia.
Production
Brecia
Subjects depicted
Summary
This circular relief in bronze is possibly made by Maffeo Olivieri ca. 1526 in Italy.

The roundel, which was formerly gilt, appears to have been designed for insertion into a marble panel, probably on a tomb. It finds close analogies in the roundels on the tomb of Marcantonio Martinegro (d. 1526) by Maffeo Olivieri, formerly on the left wall of the presbytery of the church of Corpo di Cristo, now in the Museo Christiano at Brescia.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1857. 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. 26.
  • 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. 538.
  • Treccani, Giovanni, degli Alfieri. Storia di Brescia. II. Brescia 1963, pp 817-818, illus.
Collection
Accession number
4217-1857

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Record createdJune 18, 2008
Record URL
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