A Bacchic Sacrifice
Plaquette
first half 16th century (made)
first half 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This oval bronze plaquette, depicting a Bacchic sacrifice is made by Valerio Belli, in the first half of the 16th century. It was apparently moulded from an impression of a crystal engraved in imitation of the antique.
Valerio 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.
Valerio 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 | |
| Title | A Bacchic Sacrifice (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cast bronze |
| Brief description | Plaquette, bronze, A Bacchic Sacrifice, by Valerio Belli, Italy, first half 16th century |
| Physical description | Plaquette depicts: a cylindrical altar with figures of a man and a woman, both draped. A bacchante, with flying draperies, advances from the left to a flaming altar behind which stands another bacchante. To the right leans a thyrsus. Narrow moulded rim. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Apparently moulded from an impression of a crystal engraved in imitation of the antique. Acquired in London. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This oval bronze plaquette, depicting a Bacchic sacrifice is made by Valerio Belli, in the first half of the 16th century. It was apparently moulded from an impression of a crystal engraved in imitation of the antique. Valerio 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 |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 952-1904 |
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| Record created | December 5, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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