Virgin and Child with Angels thumbnail 1
Virgin and Child with Angels thumbnail 2
+1
images
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Virgin and Child with Angels

Relief
ca. 1420 - 1430 (carved), 1850 - 1875 (carved)
Artist/Maker
Donatello (after)
Place of origin
Florence (made)

The relief, which exists also in two stucco versions (V&A mus. no. 93-1982 and one in New York) depends of the same original model, which may well have been by Donatello. Until comparatively recently it was believed that such moulded sculptures must have been cast from expensive marbles. This led to the production of fakes of ‘lost’ originals. This marble may be a contemporary version of a similar stucco, but the nature of the carving suggests it is probably a later pastiche.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Christianity
Reliefs
Object type
Relief
TitleVirgin and Child with Angels (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Marble delicately carved in <i>rilievo schiacciato</i>.
Marble
Carving
Brief description
Relief, 'Virgin and Child with Angels (Hildburgh Madonna)', marble carved in rilievo schiacciato, after a model by Donatello, Italy (Florence), ca.1420-30, or 1850-75
Physical description
The Virgin and Child are shown with four angels in this oval relief. In the background runs an arcade, which is cut at the sides by the frame. In the spandrels are two rosettes, and above is a moulded cornice. Inside this central arch sits the Virgin and Child. Below the step, appear to right and left two angels in profile, that on the left with his left hand supporting his cloak and his right hand on his left shoulder, and that on the right with his right hand outstretched. On the lower step in the foreground are two seated angles playing (left) a viol and (right) a lute.
Dimensions
  • Height: 41.5cm
  • Width: 32.5cm
  • Depth: 3.4cm
  • Weight: 5.5kg
  • Weight: 7.85kg
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries Weighed for the Donatello Exhibition (Palazzo Strozzi, Staatlisches Museen, V&A) 2022-2023
Gallery label
(2009)
The relief, which exists also in two stucco versions (V&A mus. no. 93-1982 and one in New York) depends of the same original model, which may well have been by Donatello.
Credit line
Bequeathed by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1956.
Subjects depicted
Angels
Arch
Spandrel
Rosette
Coffered Ceiling
Mother
Infant
Saint
Musicians
Mary (Virgin Mary)
Jesus Christ
Summary
The relief, which exists also in two stucco versions (V&A mus. no. 93-1982 and one in New York) depends of the same original model, which may well have been by Donatello. Until comparatively recently it was believed that such moulded sculptures must have been cast from expensive marbles. This led to the production of fakes of ‘lost’ originals. This marble may be a contemporary version of a similar stucco, but the nature of the carving suggests it is probably a later pastiche.
Bibliographic references
  • Motture, Peta, ed., Donatello: Sculpting the Renaissance, London: V&A Publishing, 2023. p. 253, cat. 6.22, entry by Whitney Kerr-Lewis, Attribution: after a model by Donatello (ca. 1420-30, or 1850-75)
  • Rowley, Neville, ed., Donatello: Inventor of the Renaissance, Berlin: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, 2022. pp. 164-165, cat. 18, entry by Laura Cavazzini, Attribution: Donatello
  • Caglioti, Francesco, ed., with Laura Cavazzini, Aldo Galli, and Neville Rowley. Donatello: il Rinascimento, Venice: Marsilio, 2022. pp. 176-177, cat. 4.4, entry by Laura Cavazzini, Attribution: Donatello
  • Acidini, Cristina & Morolli, Gabriele (eds.), L'uomo del Rinascimento Leon Battista Alberti e le arti a Firenze tra ragione e bellezza, Firenze : Mandragora : Maschietto, impr. 2006
  • Bellosi, Luciano (ed.) Masaccio e le origini del Rinascimento, Milano : Skira, 2002 no.27
  • Avery, Charles. Donatello, an Introduction. New York 1994, pp. 43-44
  • Rosenauer. Artur. Donatello. Milan 1993, pp. 313, 314
  • Gentilini, Giancarlo. ed. I Della Robbia, La Scultura invetriata nel Rinascimento. Florence: 1992, illus. p. 22 & 147, note 33
  • Jolly, Anna. Madonnas by Donatello and his Circle. Phd Thesis, Cambridge 1992, pp. 21, 34, 53-4, 78, cat. no. 20, 93-94, 150-2, pl. 30
  • Avery, Charles. Donatello. Catalogo Completo delle Opere. Florence, 1991, pp. 54-55, cat.no. 35
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume I: Text. Eighth to Fifteenth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, pp. 91-93, cat. no. 73
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.98-1956

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 createdDecember 15, 1999
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O16252/virgin-and-child-with-angels-relief-donatello/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest