We don’t have an image of this object online yet. V&A Images may have a photograph that we can’t show online, but it may be possible to supply one to you. Email us at vaimages@vam.ac.uk for guidance about fees and timescales, quoting the accession number: 272-1864
Find out about our images

Not currently on display at the V&A

The Deposition

Plaque
16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Deposition (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze in a frame of moulded horn
Brief description
Plaque, bronze, the Deposition, Italy, 16th century
Physical description
Two men on ladders lower the body of Christ from the cross, at the foot of which stands St. Mary Magdalene. In the foreground on the left two women support the Virgin. Spectators are grouped about the foot of the cross, including on the right an armed man. In the background are rocky hills and in the sky small clouds.
Dimensions
  • Height: 6.75cm
  • Width: 4.9cm
  • Frame height: 14.2cm
  • Frame width: 9.5cm
Object history
Aquired in Italy, £2.
Production
the moulded horn frame is of later date
Subjects depicted
Summary
Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.
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
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection. Reliefs - Plaquettes - Statuettes - Utensils and Mortars . London: 1965, pp. 96-97, no 342, fig 284 for another version see
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 44
Collection
Accession number
272-1864

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 createdNovember 4, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSON