Orpheus
Plaquette
late 15th century (made)
late 15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bronze plaquette is cast at the end of the 15th century in Italy by an unknown artist and depicts Orpheus seated under a tree playing on a lyre.
Orpheus was a legendary Tracian poet and very skilled with his lyre. He was married to Eurydice and when she died descended to the underworld in an unsuccessful attempt to bring her back to earth.
Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440s 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.
A small gilt bronze box in the Department of Metalwork (2084-1855) is decorated with two complete and two partial repetitions of this plaquette.
Orpheus was a legendary Tracian poet and very skilled with his lyre. He was married to Eurydice and when she died descended to the underworld in an unsuccessful attempt to bring her back to earth.
Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440s 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.
A small gilt bronze box in the Department of Metalwork (2084-1855) is decorated with two complete and two partial repetitions of this plaquette.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Orpheus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze, cast |
| Brief description | Plaquette, bronze, Orpheus with a lyre, Italy, end of 15th century |
| Physical description | Plaquette depicts in the centre Orpheus seated under a tree playing on a lyre. To the right are a horse, a wolf, an ape imitating the musician, two hares, and two cranes; to the left a stag, a lion, another ape, and a bear. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Acquired in London (Higgins Sale, January 29, lot 49). |
| Historical context | A small gilt bronze box in the Department of Metalwork (2084-1855) is decorated with two complete and two partial repetitions of this plaquette. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bronze plaquette is cast at the end of the 15th century in Italy by an unknown artist and depicts Orpheus seated under a tree playing on a lyre. Orpheus was a legendary Tracian poet and very skilled with his lyre. He was married to Eurydice and when she died descended to the underworld in an unsuccessful attempt to bring her back to earth. Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440s 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. A small gilt bronze box in the Department of Metalwork (2084-1855) is decorated with two complete and two partial repetitions of this plaquette. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 76-1904 |
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| Record created | November 25, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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