Not currently on display at the V&A

An Antique Sacrifice

Plaquette
first half 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This oval bronze plaquette is made by Valerio Belli in the first half of the 16th century. It depicts a scene of an antique sacrifice where in the middle is an altar and a priest is about to sacrifice a goat. It was apparently moulded from an impression of an engraved crystal.

Belli (1468-1546) was born into a respected Vicentine family. He trained as a goldsmith and developed considerable skills in engraving crystals and dies. For Pope Clement VII he created his masterpiece, a crystal casket with 24 scenes from the life of Christ, now in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Belli was strongly influenced by Raphael and Michelangelo. He had a facility to work very quickly, and Vasari noted that Belli had flooded the world with his works.

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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAn Antique Sacrifice (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Cast bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, an Antique Sacrifice, by Valerio Belli, Italy, first half on 16th century
Physical description
Plaquette depicts: in the centre, an altar at which a priest is about to sacrifice a goat; on either side are attendants and spectators; and in the background an Ionic temple with semi-circular pediment, in front of which is a figure of the goddess.
Dimensions
  • Height: 4.4cm
  • Width: 3.55cm
Object history
Apparently moulded from an impression of an engraved crystal.
Acquired in London.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This oval bronze plaquette is made by Valerio Belli in the first half of the 16th century. It depicts a scene of an antique sacrifice where in the middle is an altar and a priest is about to sacrifice a goat. It was apparently moulded from an impression of an engraved crystal.

Belli (1468-1546) was born into a respected Vicentine family. He trained as a goldsmith and developed considerable skills in engraving crystals and dies. For Pope Clement VII he created his masterpiece, a crystal casket with 24 scenes from the life of Christ, now in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence. Belli was strongly influenced by Raphael and Michelangelo. He had a facility to work very quickly, and Vasari noted that Belli had flooded the world with his works.

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.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1903 - 1904. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1904, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1908, p. 160
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, pp. 67, 68.
Collection
Accession number
951-1904

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Record createdDecember 5, 2008
Record URL
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