The Sacrifice of Iphigeneia
Plaquette
ca. 1500 (made)
ca. 1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This plaquette depicting the sacrifice of Iphigenia ia made by the so-called Master IO.F.F. in ca. 1500, in Italy.
Iphigenia was the daughter of Agamemnon, King of Mycenea, who led the forces against Troy. Her father agreed to sacrifice her on Diana's altar to appease the goddess, who kept the Achaean fleet from leaving Aulis for Troy. At the crucial moment Diana substituted her for a deer. She subsequently became one of her priestesses.
Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to book-bindings.
Iphigenia was the daughter of Agamemnon, King of Mycenea, who led the forces against Troy. Her father agreed to sacrifice her on Diana's altar to appease the goddess, who kept the Achaean fleet from leaving Aulis for Troy. At the crucial moment Diana substituted her for a deer. She subsequently became one of her priestesses.
Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to book-bindings.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Sacrifice of Iphigeneia (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Plaquette, bronze, the Sacrifice of Iphigenia, by the Master IO.F.F., Italy, ca. 1500 |
| Physical description | Iphigenia, naked except for a girdle, standing with her hand raised. To the right a warrior with helmet and shield raising his sword to stab her. Behind him a man carrying a trophy of arms on a lance. To the left a man (Calchas?); beside him a naked warrior (Agamemnon?) with elaborately decorated helmet and shield, seen from the back. Clouds in the sky. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This plaquette depicting the sacrifice of Iphigenia ia made by the so-called Master IO.F.F. in ca. 1500, in Italy. Iphigenia was the daughter of Agamemnon, King of Mycenea, who led the forces against Troy. Her father agreed to sacrifice her on Diana's altar to appease the goddess, who kept the Achaean fleet from leaving Aulis for Troy. At the crucial moment Diana substituted her for a deer. She subsequently became one of her priestesses. Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector's pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to book-bindings. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.469-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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