Not currently on display at the V&A

Putto with a skull and serpent (the Christ Child?)

Statuette
ca. 1780 - ca. 1820 (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
France (made)

This carved ivory statuette of a young boy trampling on a skull and a serpent probably symbolises Christ overcoming Death and Sin. It was made by an unknown artist in France or possibly the Netherlands in ca. 1780-1820. The figure may have originally held a cross in his right hand.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Myths & Legends
Object type
Statuette
TitlePutto with a skull and serpent (the Christ Child?) (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Ivory
Ivory
Brief description
Statuette, carved ivory, putto with a skull and snake, French, or possibly Netherlandish, ca. 1780-1820
Physical description
The boy stands with arm bent, trampling on a skull and a serpent. The figure may have originally held a cross in his right hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by John Jones
Object history
Jones Bequest in 1882.
Subjects depicted
Christ's Sacrifice
Skull
Snake
Boy
Summary
This carved ivory statuette of a young boy trampling on a skull and a serpent probably symbolises Christ overcoming Death and Sin. It was made by an unknown artist in France or possibly the Netherlands in ca. 1780-1820. The figure may have originally held a cross in his right hand.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1882. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1883, p. 86
  • Catalogue of the Jones Bequest. 1924, II, No. 456
  • Trusted, M. Images of Mortality in Vander Auwera, J ed. Liber Amicorum Raphaël de Smedt. Louvain: Peeters, 2001, pp. 361-76
  • Longhurst, Margaret, H. Catalogue of Carvings in Ivory. II. London: The Board of Education, 1929, p. 121
  • Trusted, Marjorie, Baroque & Later Ivories, Victoria & Albert Museum, London, 2013, cat. no. 281, pp. 284, 5
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
953-1882

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Record createdJuly 24, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O164232/putto-with-a-skull-and-statuette-unknown/
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