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Not currently on display at the V&A

The Death of Marcus Curtius

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

This plaquette depicting the Death of Marcus Curtius, is made in the late 15th century or early 16th century by the so-called Master of IO. F.F.
The format of the plaquette was developed in the mid 15th century, arguably by the artist Filarete and Cardinal Pietro Barbo, later Pope Paul II, (1464-1471), in the bronze foundries he established in Rome. Pietro Barbo was a renowned collector and patron.

The best examples of Italian plaquettes were produced between c.1485 and 1530, and were limited to central and northern Italy. In their purest form they were by definition light and of a size that could be held comfortably in the hand for close inspection. Unlike portrait medals they were one sided. They were modest in their relief and often used rilievo schiacciato, a very shallow form of relief, to give a subtle illusion of depth, as used to the extreme for the hill-town in the backround of this plaquette. This differentiates the plaquette from larger bronze reliefs, along with the fact that up to 50 were cast from the same moulds. Plaquettes were usually bronze but they were also cast in brass, lead or precious metals.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Death of Marcus Curtius (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaque, bronze, depicting death of Marcus Curtius, by the Master of IO. F. F., Italy, late 15th or early 16th century
Physical description
Plaque is escutcheon-shaped and depicts in the foreground Marcus Curtius on his horse leaping into the gulf which opens in front of a tall temple; on each side Roman soldiers and citizens watching him. Narrow rim.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.1cm
  • Width: 5.9cm
Object history
Aquired in Italy, for £2.
Production
possibly made in Mantua
Subject depicted
Summary
This plaquette depicting the Death of Marcus Curtius, is made in the late 15th century or early 16th century by the so-called Master of IO. F.F.
The format of the plaquette was developed in the mid 15th century, arguably by the artist Filarete and Cardinal Pietro Barbo, later Pope Paul II, (1464-1471), in the bronze foundries he established in Rome. Pietro Barbo was a renowned collector and patron.

The best examples of Italian plaquettes were produced between c.1485 and 1530, and were limited to central and northern Italy. In their purest form they were by definition light and of a size that could be held comfortably in the hand for close inspection. Unlike portrait medals they were one sided. They were modest in their relief and often used rilievo schiacciato, a very shallow form of relief, to give a subtle illusion of depth, as used to the extreme for the hill-town in the backround of this plaquette. This differentiates the plaquette from larger bronze reliefs, along with the fact that up to 50 were cast from the same moulds. Plaquettes were usually bronze but they were also cast in brass, lead or precious metals.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1864 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. 56
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 54
  • 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.
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection. Reliefs - Plaquettes - Statuettes - Utensils and Mortars . London: 1965, p. 34, no. 102, fig. 133
  • Waldman, Louis. "A Livian Plaquette by Master IO.F.F.". In: The Medal, No. 21, 1992, pp. 17-19.
Collection
Accession number
268-1864

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Record createdNovember 4, 2008
Record URL
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