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The Genius of Music

Plaquette
ca. 1900 (made)
Artist/Maker

This plaquette entitled the 'Genius of Music' is a modern surmoulage from an Italian original of the early 16th century. It is made by an unknown artist.

It depicts a naked man resting his right arm on the branch of a tree, to which are hung various musical instruments.

Plaquettes are small plaques 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 Genius of Music (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Cast bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, cast bronze, The Genius of Music, modern copy of a 16th century Italian original, ca. 1900
Physical description
A naked man resting his right arm on the branch of a tree, to which are hung various musical instruments; with his left hand to the arm of which a floating drapery is attached, he empties a horn over a flaming anvil.
Dimensions
  • Height: 11.3cm
  • Width: 7.1cm
Object history
This Plaquette is a modern surmoulage from an Italian original of the early 16th century.
Production
A modern surmoulage from an Italian original of the early 16th century
Subjects depicted
Summary
This plaquette entitled the 'Genius of Music' is a modern surmoulage from an Italian original of the early 16th century. It is made by an unknown artist.

It depicts a naked man resting his right arm on the branch of a tree, to which are hung various musical instruments.

Plaquettes are small plaques 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 reference
List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1905 - 1908. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1906, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, 1909, p. 19
Collection
Accession number
126-1906

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Record createdDecember 17, 2008
Record URL
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