Not currently on display at the V&A

Statuette

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

This hollow cast bronze statuette resembles the bronze figure of Marsyas in the Galleria delle Statue of the Vatican, in Rome, attributed to Michelangelo. The weight rests on the left leg, the right being sharply bent. The head and body are vigorously thrown back to the left, the gaze being directed to an object helf in the uplifted left hand. This item was originally part of the collections of the Museum of Practical Geology in Jermyn Street in London.


Object details

Category
Sculpture
Object type
Statuette
Materials and techniques
Bronze, hollow cast
Bronze
Cast
Brief description
Bronze statuette of a male anatomical figure, Italy, 16th century
Physical description
Statuette, bronze, resembling the wax model in the Victoria and Albert Museum, which is a sketch for the bronze figure of Marsyas in the Galleria delle Statue of the Vatican, Rome, attributed to Michelangelo. It is made using hollow cire-perdue casting with several flaws. The figure appears to be flayed to the surface muscles. The weight rests on the left leg the right being sharply bent. The head and body are vigorously thrown back to the left, the gaze being directed to an object (missing) held in the uplifted left hand. The right arm hangs loosely at the side. There is no base, but a thick solid tang projects below the left foot.
Dimensions
  • Height: 8.25in
Credit line
Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street
Object history
Transferred from the Museum of Practical Geology, Jermyn Street.
Subject depicted
Male Figure
Summary
This hollow cast bronze statuette resembles the bronze figure of Marsyas in the Galleria delle Statue of the Vatican, in Rome, attributed to Michelangelo. The weight rests on the left leg, the right being sharply bent. The head and body are vigorously thrown back to the left, the gaze being directed to an object helf in the uplifted left hand. This item was originally part of the collections of the Museum of Practical Geology in Jermyn Street in London.
Bibliographic references
  • List of Works of Art acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum during the Year 1901. Jermyn Street Collection. Part IV London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office. Wyman and Sons. 1909. pp.98
  • Price Amerson, L The Problem of the Ecorché: A Catalogue Raisonné of Models and Statuettes from the Sixteenth Century and Later Periods. Phd Thesis. Pennsylvania State University. May 1975. cat. 19. pp.253. fig. 193-4
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
5438-1901

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Record createdMay 27, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O236639/statuette-unknown/
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