Not currently on display at the V&A

Relief

1450-1500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This bronze relief shows a scene taking place in a landscape with, in the foreground, a river which winds backwards through the composition. In the distance, on the further bank of the river, is a wood. In the right foreground, on the river bank, kneels a woman in left profile bending forward over a child who is floating in the stream. On the left in right profile, is a bearded male figure with hands raised in astonishment at the vision of an angel who appears in the centre in the sky.
The subject of the present relief could be the 'Circumcision of the Son of Moses', Exodus IV, 22-24 (see: J. Montagu).
It is made in the style of Bartollomeo Bellano (ca. 1434-1496/7), who was a native of Padua and assumedly a member of Donatello’s Paduan studio. He appears to have followed Donatello to Florence.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Relief in bronze
Brief description
Relief, bronze, a biblical scene, in the style of Bartolomeo Bellano, Italy (Padua), second half of 15th century
Physical description
The scene takes place in a landscape with, in the foreground, a river which winds backwards through the composition. In the distance, on the further bank of the river, is a wood. In the right foreground, on the river bank, kneels a woman in left profile bending forward over a child who is floating in the stream. On the left in right profile, is a bearded male figure with hands raised in astonishment at the vision of an angel who appears in the centre in the sky.
Dimensions
  • Height: 24.9cm
  • Width: 24.9cm
Object history
Given by Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1951.

Historical significance: J. Montagu states that the subject of the present relief is the 'Circumcision of the Son of Moses', Exodus IV, 22-24
Subjects depicted
Summary
This bronze relief shows a scene taking place in a landscape with, in the foreground, a river which winds backwards through the composition. In the distance, on the further bank of the river, is a wood. In the right foreground, on the river bank, kneels a woman in left profile bending forward over a child who is floating in the stream. On the left in right profile, is a bearded male figure with hands raised in astonishment at the vision of an angel who appears in the centre in the sky.
The subject of the present relief could be the 'Circumcision of the Son of Moses', Exodus IV, 22-24 (see: J. Montagu).
It is made in the style of Bartollomeo Bellano (ca. 1434-1496/7), who was a native of Padua and assumedly a member of Donatello’s Paduan studio. He appears to have followed Donatello to Florence.
Bibliographic references
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume I: Text. Eighth to Fifteenth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, pp. 337, 338, no. 365
  • Montagu, Jennifer, 'The Subject of a Bronze Relief', in: Razprave iz Evropske Umetnosti, 1999, pp. 33-41
Collection
Accession number
A.68-1951

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

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest