Not currently on display at the V&A

Picture

ca. 1800 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This micromosaics is executed in grisaille, a style using varying shades of grey. It depicts a Bacchantes, a female follower of Bacchus, god of wine.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.


Object details

Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Picture
  • Frame
Materials and techniques
Micromosaic, gilt wood frame
Brief description
Micromosaic picture depicting a satyr and nude, Rome, Giacomo Raffaelli, ca.1800.
Physical description
Rectangular micromosaic depicting a satyr bending over a sleeping nymph. The mosaic is executed en grisaille with a blue backgound and is within a gilt frame.
Dimensions
  • Mosaic only height: 25.2cm
  • Mosaic only width: 22.5cm
  • Including frame height: 37.5cm
  • Including frame width: 35.0cm
  • Including frame depth: 5.2cm
Marks and inscriptions
On the back of the picture a label reads ' Jacques Raffaelli/Etude Mosaiques/ de travaux en tout genre de marbres / a Rome/ Rue du Babuinon. 92/pre du Theatre dMibert' [sic].
Gallery label
Satyr with a goat, and sleeping bacchante About 1800 These micromosaics are executed in grisaille, a style using varying shades of grey. Satyrs were mythological creatures which were half-man, half goat. Bacchantes were female followers of Bacchus, god of wine. Rome, Italy, Giacomo Raffaelli (1753-1836) Galss micromosaic Museum nos. Loan: Gilbert 175,1-2; 176, 1-2, 2008
Credit line
The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Object history
Provenance: Didier Aaron, Paris, 1985.

Historical significance: Scenes from classical literature delighted the eighteenth and nineteenth century traveller who was familiar with mythology and had visited ancient ruins at Pompeii or Paestum with their wall paintings of similar bacchanalian subjects.
Historical context
Satyrs and bacchantes were followers of Bacchus who represented the powers of the earth and nature as spirits of the fields, valleys, groves and mountains, particularly in Arcadia, a pastoral region of ancient Greece.
Subject depicted
Summary
This micromosaics is executed in grisaille, a style using varying shades of grey. It depicts a Bacchantes, a female follower of Bacchus, god of wine.

Sir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes. Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.
Associated objects
Bibliographic reference
Wheeler, Daniel, ed. with introduction by Alexis Gregory. Princely Taste: Treasures from Great Private Collections. Exhibition catalogue, Jerusalem: Israel Museum, vol. 369, 1995, p. 77.
Other number
MM 281B - Arthur Gilbert Number
Collection
Accession number
LOAN:GILBERT.176:1, 2-2008

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 26, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest