Orpheus Playing to the Animals
Relief
ca. 1625 - ca. 1650 (made)
ca. 1625 - ca. 1650 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bronze relief depicting Orpheus Playing to the Animals and 12 plaquettes of the animals, is made by Francesco Fanelli (active 1609; d. 1665), in London, in ca. 1625-1650.
Fanelli was active in Genoa, where he produced works in marble, silver, ivory and bronze, before coming to England in about 1635 to work for King Charles I. During his stay he specialised in bronze. The reliefs were formerly in the collection of physician and collector, Dr Richard Mead (1673-1754). A variation on the Orpheus relief, together with eight of the animal plaquettes based on the same models, also appear on John Evelyn's cabinet (W.24-1977) displayed in gallery 55. Reproductions were made from Fanelli's models long after his death.
Fanelli was active in Genoa, where he produced works in marble, silver, ivory and bronze, before coming to England in about 1635 to work for King Charles I. During his stay he specialised in bronze. The reliefs were formerly in the collection of physician and collector, Dr Richard Mead (1673-1754). A variation on the Orpheus relief, together with eight of the animal plaquettes based on the same models, also appear on John Evelyn's cabinet (W.24-1977) displayed in gallery 55. Reproductions were made from Fanelli's models long after his death.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 13 parts.
|
| Title | Orpheus Playing to the Animals (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze relief |
| Brief description | Relief, Orpheus Playing to the Animals, bronze, Francesco Fanelli (active 1609-d.1665), Anglo-Florentine (London), ca. 1625-1650 |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Bought under the Murray bequest for £185, in 1959. The reliefs were formerly in the collection of Dr Richard Mead (Mead cabinet). |
| Production | Anglo-Italian |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bronze relief depicting Orpheus Playing to the Animals and 12 plaquettes of the animals, is made by Francesco Fanelli (active 1609; d. 1665), in London, in ca. 1625-1650. Fanelli was active in Genoa, where he produced works in marble, silver, ivory and bronze, before coming to England in about 1635 to work for King Charles I. During his stay he specialised in bronze. The reliefs were formerly in the collection of physician and collector, Dr Richard Mead (1673-1754). A variation on the Orpheus relief, together with eight of the animal plaquettes based on the same models, also appear on John Evelyn's cabinet (W.24-1977) displayed in gallery 55. Reproductions were made from Fanelli's models long after his death. |
| Bibliographic reference | Webster, Mary, "Taste of an Augustan Collector. The Collection of Dr Richard Mead I", in: Country Life, Jan. 29, 1970, pp. 249-251 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.29-1959 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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