The Spinario; The Boy extracting a thorn from his foot
- Object:
- Place of origin:
Padua (possibly, made)
Ravenna, Italy (possibly, made)
- Date:
- Artist/Maker:
Severo da Ravenna (workshop of, maker)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Museum number:
- Gallery location:
Medieval and Renaissance, room 64, case SS3
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This bronze statuette is made by the workshop of Severo da Ravenna (Severo Calzeta) between 1510 and 1530 in Ravenna or Padua, Italy.
It is called The Spinario and shows a boy extracting a thorn from his foot.
Adapted from a famous antique bronze now in the Musei Capitolini, Rome, this figure was probably part of an inkstand. It was made by the workshop of Severo Calzeta, which used moulds to cast several versions of the same bronze. Severo's works were therefore owned by many collectors, including Isabella d'Este, Marquise of Mantua.
Severo da Ravenna or Severo di Domenico Calzetta da Ravenna was an Italian sculptor, active ca 1496, who died ca. 1543. His father was probably a sculptor and he may have been related to the two painters of the same name working in the circle of Mantegna in Padua: Pietro Calzetta and Francesco Calzetta. Severo might have divided his time between Padua, Ferrara and Ravenna, where he was first recorded in 1496.
Physical description
Statuette of a boy extracting a thorn from his foot.
Place of Origin
Padua (possibly, made)
Ravenna, Italy (possibly, made)
Date
1510-1530 (made)
Artist/maker
Severo da Ravenna (workshop of, maker)
Materials and Techniques
Bronze
Dimensions
Height: 18.8 cm, Width: 7.8 cm, Depth: 12.5 cm, Weight: 1.56 kg
Object history note
Adapted from a famous antique bronze now in the Musei Capitolini, Rome, this figure was probably part of an inkstand. It was made by the workshop of Severo Calzeta, which used moulds to cast several versions of the same bronze. Severo's works were therefore owned by many collectors, including Isabella d'Este, Marquise of Mantua.
Descriptive line
Statuette, The Spinario, workshop Severo Calzetta da Ravenna, ca. 1510-30, Italy, Padua or Ravenna
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1858. 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. 27.
Drury, C. and Fortnum, E. A Descriptive Catalogue of the Bronzes of European Origin in the South Kensington Museum. London 1876, p. 28.
Binnebeke, Emile van. Bronze Sculpture: Sculpture from 1500-1800 in the collection of the Boymans-van Beuningen Museum. Rotterdam, 1994, pp. 56-57, cat. No. 7
Labels and date
THE SPINARIO, also known as The Boy Extracting a Thorn from his Foot
About 1510-30
Workshop of Severo Calzetta da Ravenna (born 1465-75, died before 1538)
Adapted from a famous antique bronze now in the Musei Capitolini, Rome, this figure was probably part of an inkstand. It was made by the workshop of Severo Calzetta, which used moulds to cast several versions of the same bronze. Severo's works were therefore owned by many collectors, including Isabella d'Este, Marquise of Mantua.
Italy, Padua or Ravenna
Bronze
Museum no. 4533-1858 [2008]
Production Note
Padua or Ravenna
Materials
Bronze
Subjects depicted
Boy
Categories
Sculpture
Collection code
SCP
