An Allegory of the life of Lucas Holstenius
Relief
seventeenth century (made)
seventeenth century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A version of this relief in wood appears on the monument to Lucas Holstenius (Holste) (1596-1661), a German Catholic humanist, geographer and historian, in the church of Santa Maria dell' Anima in Rome. This monument, which was erected by Cardinal Francesco Barberini, consists of a sarcophagus, surmounted by a broken pedestal on which two putti are seated holding a medallion portrait of Holste.
Holste was converted to Catholicism in 1627 and moved to Rome entering the household of Cardinal Barbarini, a former papal nuncio. Holste became the librarian to Count Barbarini and served on a number of papal missions. In particular he was sent by Pope Alexander VII to Innsbruck to meet Queen Charlotte of Sweden and accept her abjuration of Protestantism.
The inscription of this medallion refers to this mission and the image may in fact be an allegorical illustration of this event. It could be read as representing either Truth leading the World to the Catholic Religion and Rome or Truth leading Queen Charlotte away from the World towards the Catholic Religion and Rome.
Holste was converted to Catholicism in 1627 and moved to Rome entering the household of Cardinal Barbarini, a former papal nuncio. Holste became the librarian to Count Barbarini and served on a number of papal missions. In particular he was sent by Pope Alexander VII to Innsbruck to meet Queen Charlotte of Sweden and accept her abjuration of Protestantism.
The inscription of this medallion refers to this mission and the image may in fact be an allegorical illustration of this event. It could be read as representing either Truth leading the World to the Catholic Religion and Rome or Truth leading Queen Charlotte away from the World towards the Catholic Religion and Rome.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | An Allegory of the life of Lucas Holstenius |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Bronze Italian 17c Antonio giorgetti |
| Physical description | Relief, bronze. To the left is a seated female figure holding a kean and leaning on a church. Before her kneels a second female figure, holding a scroll in her right hand while with her left hand she points to a globe, compasses, two books and a second scroll on the ground behind her. Between the two figures is a standing woman holding a symbol of the sun in her right hand. In the right background is the seated figure of a bearded man. Below to the right and Romulus and Remus with the Capitoline wolkd and to the left is a seated River God. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscription in greek, translated as 'Sucking honey from the rock'. |
| Credit line | Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A. |
| Object history | Given by Dr W.L Hildburgh, F.S.A. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | A version of this relief in wood appears on the monument to Lucas Holstenius (Holste) (1596-1661), a German Catholic humanist, geographer and historian, in the church of Santa Maria dell' Anima in Rome. This monument, which was erected by Cardinal Francesco Barberini, consists of a sarcophagus, surmounted by a broken pedestal on which two putti are seated holding a medallion portrait of Holste. Holste was converted to Catholicism in 1627 and moved to Rome entering the household of Cardinal Barbarini, a former papal nuncio. Holste became the librarian to Count Barbarini and served on a number of papal missions. In particular he was sent by Pope Alexander VII to Innsbruck to meet Queen Charlotte of Sweden and accept her abjuration of Protestantism. The inscription of this medallion refers to this mission and the image may in fact be an allegorical illustration of this event. It could be read as representing either Truth leading the World to the Catholic Religion and Rome or Truth leading Queen Charlotte away from the World towards the Catholic Religion and Rome. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.9-1945 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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