Not currently on display at the V&A

A Youth Asleep

Plaquette
16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This plaquette depicting a Youth asleep, is made by Riccio (Andrea Briosco) in Italy in the 16th century.

Riccio (meaning 'Curly-Head') worked primarily in bronze and is acknowledged as the master of the bronze statuette during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was active in the humanist circle of the University of Padua, in north-east Italy.

Riccio was trained as a goldsmith and lived and worked all his live in Padua. Today he is acknowledged as one of the greatest bronze sculptors of the Renaissance.


His statuettes, functional objects, like oil lamps, and reliefs reflect Riccio's inimitable ability to express the most refined humanist ideas prevalent in the Veneto in bronze.
He was also a specialist in rendering themes of Classical mythology.
His oeuvre is often neglected because of its small scale, but it constitutes one of the most fascinating manifestations of the poetic paganism of the High Renaissance.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleA Youth Asleep (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, A Youth Asleep, by Riccio, Italy, 16th century
Physical description
Plaquette with a greek inscription in the exergue.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 5.08cm
Content description
Plaquette depicts a seated nude female figure of a youth with his left arm resting on a base. His right hand holds a book which two winged putti are about to steal.
Object history
From the collection of Baron de Monville. Bought, 2l. 10s.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This plaquette depicting a Youth asleep, is made by Riccio (Andrea Briosco) in Italy in the 16th century.

Riccio (meaning 'Curly-Head') worked primarily in bronze and is acknowledged as the master of the bronze statuette during the late 15th and early 16th centuries. He was active in the humanist circle of the University of Padua, in north-east Italy.

Riccio was trained as a goldsmith and lived and worked all his live in Padua. Today he is acknowledged as one of the greatest bronze sculptors of the Renaissance.


His statuettes, functional objects, like oil lamps, and reliefs reflect Riccio's inimitable ability to express the most refined humanist ideas prevalent in the Veneto in bronze.
He was also a specialist in rendering themes of Classical mythology.
His oeuvre is often neglected because of its small scale, but it constitutes one of the most fascinating manifestations of the poetic paganism of the High Renaissance.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1861. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 24
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 23
Collection
Accession number
7460-1861

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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