The Worship of the Golden Calf
Relief
1725-1770 (made)
1725-1770 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This undocumented relief illustrates the Old Testament scene of Moses discovering the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf. Moses can be seen in the background descending from Mount Sinai and about to throw down the Tablets on which the Commandments were written.
The figures in the foreground appear to have been modelled separately in the clay and applied to the low-relief background before firing. The area around Bologna was a source of good quality clay and the city therefore became an important centre for terracotta sculpture.
Agostino Corsini (1688-1772) worked in his native Bologna and also in Rome, where he made the figure of Abundance for the Trevi Fountain (1735). He worked in the style of late Baroque Classicism, and later in the Roccoco style. From his earlier work in Bologna little survives. He moved to Rome in the 1730s where he worked on decorative sculptures for various architectural sites.
The figures in the foreground appear to have been modelled separately in the clay and applied to the low-relief background before firing. The area around Bologna was a source of good quality clay and the city therefore became an important centre for terracotta sculpture.
Agostino Corsini (1688-1772) worked in his native Bologna and also in Rome, where he made the figure of Abundance for the Trevi Fountain (1735). He worked in the style of late Baroque Classicism, and later in the Roccoco style. From his earlier work in Bologna little survives. He moved to Rome in the 1730s where he worked on decorative sculptures for various architectural sites.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Worship of the Golden Calf (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Relief in terracotta |
| Brief description | Relief, terracotta, the Worship of the Golden Calf, by Agostino Corsini, Italy, ca. 1725-1770 |
| Physical description | In the centre are six figures dancing round the golden calf, which stands on a plinth behind. In the left foreground is a seated woman nursing a child. On the right Aaron points to the calf; behind him on the extreme right are a number of further figures. In the left background is Moses with the Tables of the Law. Signed below. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label | This undocumented relief illustrates the Old Testament scene of Moses discovering the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf. Moses can be seen in the background descending from Mount Sinai and about to throw down the Tablets on which the Commandments were written.
The figures in the foreground appear to have been modelled separately in the clay and applied to the low-relief background before firing. The area around Bologna was a source of good quality clay and the city therefore became an important centre for terracotta sculpture. Corsini worked in his native Bologna and also in Rome, where he made the figure of Abundance for the Trevi Fountain (1735). |
| Credit line | Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A. |
| Object history | Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1952. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This undocumented relief illustrates the Old Testament scene of Moses discovering the Israelites worshipping the Golden Calf. Moses can be seen in the background descending from Mount Sinai and about to throw down the Tablets on which the Commandments were written. The figures in the foreground appear to have been modelled separately in the clay and applied to the low-relief background before firing. The area around Bologna was a source of good quality clay and the city therefore became an important centre for terracotta sculpture. Agostino Corsini (1688-1772) worked in his native Bologna and also in Rome, where he made the figure of Abundance for the Trevi Fountain (1735). He worked in the style of late Baroque Classicism, and later in the Roccoco style. From his earlier work in Bologna little survives. He moved to Rome in the 1730s where he worked on decorative sculptures for various architectural sites. |
| Bibliographic references |
|
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.35-1952 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
