Monster thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

Monster

Statuette
1610-1630 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This monster is attributed to Arent van Bolten, made in the Netherlands in ca. 1610-1630.
There are clearly visible attachment holes, the foremost of which are not cast but drilled, suggesting that part of the monster is missing. There is also an open back. Those two facts suggest that there was a hinged flap, or a rider.
Arent van Bolten (ca. 1573-1624/26) was a silversmith and sculptor, but got especially well known for his drawings. His most frequent subjects were grotesque figures and monsters, biblical and mythological scenes and scenes from peasant life.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleMonster (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Statuette, bronze, a monster, attributed to Arent van Bolten, Netherlandish, ca. 1610-1630
Physical description
Bronze in the form of a monster with a shell back, corkscrew tail and bird's legs. Modern marble base.
Dimensions
  • Height: 15.24cm
  • Width: 17.14cm
Credit line
Given by Dr W.L. Hildburgh
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1952.

Historical significance: This is the only known specimen of this statuette, which stands on a modern plinth.
Historical context
There are clearly visible attachment holes, the foremost of which are not cast but drilled. That suggests that part of the monster is missing. There is also an open back. These facts suggest that there was a hinged flap, or a rider.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This monster is attributed to Arent van Bolten, made in the Netherlands in ca. 1610-1630.
There are clearly visible attachment holes, the foremost of which are not cast but drilled, suggesting that part of the monster is missing. There is also an open back. Those two facts suggest that there was a hinged flap, or a rider.
Arent van Bolten (ca. 1573-1624/26) was a silversmith and sculptor, but got especially well known for his drawings. His most frequent subjects were grotesque figures and monsters, biblical and mythological scenes and scenes from peasant life.
Bibliographic references
  • Leeuwenberg, Jaap, 'The Grotesques ascribed to Arent van Bolten', in: Apollo, April 1966, pp. 272-277, fig. 7, note 18
  • Luijten, Ger, Dawn of the Golden Age: Northern Netherlandish Art 1580-1620, Amsterdam: Rijksmuseum, 1994.
Collection
Accession number
M.62-1952

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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