Not currently on display at the V&A

The Rest on the Flight into Egypt

Relief
ca. 1640 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bronze relief is made by Alessandro Algardi (1595-1654) in Rome in ca. 1640.
This and the companion relief (A.68-1952) are contemporary replicas of a gilt-bronze relief designed by Algardi to accompany the marble group of 'The Martyrdom of St. Paul' in S. Paolo, Bologna, in 1641. The altar was designed by Borromini on the commission of Cardinal Bernardino Spada.
In technique it is closely reminiscent of 111-1869. The detail of the robes and background is, however, more highly chased.

Algardi was an Italian sculptor, architect and draughtsman. Alongside Bernini he was the most important sculptor in Rome active around the middle of the 17th century. He produced the classizing antithesis to Bernini's High Baroque sculpture. They were seen and experienced at the time as rivals and equals.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Rest on the Flight into Egypt (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Relief in bronze
Brief description
Relief, gilt bronze, The Rest on the Flight into Egypt, by Alessandro Algardi, Italian, ca. 1640
Physical description
The Virgin is seated in the centre on a rock or mound, turned to the left towards the Child, who lies sleeping on her cloak. She extends the cloak with her right, and touches the Child's arm with her left. In the left background is an angel holding up a curtain. On the right beneath a tree is St. Joseph kneeling on one knee, with his head supported on his right hand and an open book in his left.
Dimensions
  • Height: 29.5cm
  • Width: 35.7cm
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1952.
The relief seems to depend from a design by Algardi. In technique it is closely reminiscent of 111-1869. The detail of the robes and background is, however, more highly chased. The existence of the relief is not mentioned by Passeri or Bellori, but it is likely to have been produced in the sixteen-forties at about the same date as the Martyrdom of St. Paul (A.68-1952).
Subjects depicted
Summary
This bronze relief is made by Alessandro Algardi (1595-1654) in Rome in ca. 1640.
This and the companion relief (A.68-1952) are contemporary replicas of a gilt-bronze relief designed by Algardi to accompany the marble group of 'The Martyrdom of St. Paul' in S. Paolo, Bologna, in 1641. The altar was designed by Borromini on the commission of Cardinal Bernardino Spada.
In technique it is closely reminiscent of 111-1869. The detail of the robes and background is, however, more highly chased.

Algardi was an Italian sculptor, architect and draughtsman. Alongside Bernini he was the most important sculptor in Rome active around the middle of the 17th century. He produced the classizing antithesis to Bernini's High Baroque sculpture. They were seen and experienced at the time as rivals and equals.
Associated object
111-1869 (Version)
Bibliographic references
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 615. cat.no. 648
  • Raggio, Olga. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albertt Museum. Art Bulletin. Vol. L, 1968, p. 104
  • Montagu, Jennifer. Alessandro Algardi. New Haven and London, 1985, cat. R. 37, p. 307-309
  • Heimbürger Ravalli, M. Alessandro Algardi Scultore, Rome, 1973, p. 180 and fig. 25
Collection
Accession number
A.69-1952

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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