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Not currently on display at the V&A

An Allegory

Plaque
late 15th century to early 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This plaque is made by the master of IO. F. F. perhaps from Mantua in Italy in the late 15th or early 16th century.

The circular plaquette is bronze parcel-gilt. To the right is a woman seated on a dragon; behind her is another woman holding a mirror (?) hung on the cross bar on a staff.
Before her stand two men, the first, naked, holding a palm branch, and the second carrying a severed head on a crossed pole. To the left is a statue of Diana with the bow on a pedestal before which crouches a lion.
In the exergue, in relief is the inscription IO.F.F.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAn Allegory (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze parcel-gilt
Brief description
Plaque, bronze, with a classical group in relief, signed by artist IO.F.F., Italy, late 15th or early 16th century
Physical description
Circular plaquette in bronze parcel-gilt. To the right a woman seated on a dragon; behind her another woman holding a mirror (?) hung on the cross bar on a staff. Before her stand two men, the first, naked, holding a palm branch, and the second carrying a severed head on a crossed pole. To the left is a statue of Diana with the bow on a pedestal before which crouches a lion. In the exergue, in relief, IO.F.F.
Dimensions
  • Height: 76.5mm
  • Width: 76mm
  • Without mount diameter: 55.5mm
Marks and inscriptions
In the exergue, in relief, IO.F.F.
Object history
Aquired in London.
Production
The plaque is by the master IO.F.F., which is also inscribed in relief in the exergue
Subjects depicted
Summary
This plaque is made by the master of IO. F. F. perhaps from Mantua in Italy in the late 15th or early 16th century.

The circular plaquette is bronze parcel-gilt. To the right is a woman seated on a dragon; behind her is another woman holding a mirror (?) hung on the cross bar on a staff.
Before her stand two men, the first, naked, holding a palm branch, and the second carrying a severed head on a crossed pole. To the left is a statue of Diana with the bow on a pedestal before which crouches a lion.
In the exergue, in relief is the inscription IO.F.F.
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. 30.
  • Fulton, Christopher, B. "The Master IO.F.F. and the Function of Plaquettes". In: Studies in the History of Art, Italian Plaquettes, Vol. 22, 1985, pp. 143-162.
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p.53.
  • Martini, Luciana. Piccoli bronzi e placchette del Museo Nazionale di Ravenna. University Press, Bologna, 1985, pp. 167-168, no. 46.
Collection
Accession number
4371-1857

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Record createdJune 24, 2008
Record URL
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