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Adoration of the Magi

Plaquette
late 15th century or early 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This plaquette in bronze, representing The Adoration of the Magi, is made by Moderno in the late 15th or early 16th century in Italy.

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 bookbindings.

MODERNO (1467-1528) (Galeazzo Mondella) is the pseudonym of this goldsmith and medallist active in North Italy and later in Rome. He signed certain pieces of his work with OPUS MODERNI (opus is the Latin term for 'work' - which then means 'work of the modern'). The modern here is referring to the Ancient World, in contrary to the Naturalism of the Gothic. His earliest works may date around 1485-1490, and his earliest dated work is 1490.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleAdoration of the Magi (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, The Adoration of the Magi, by Moderno, Italy, late 15th or early 16th century
Dimensions
  • Height: 10cm
  • Width: 6.7cm
Content description
Plaque depicts to the right, in the front of a shed, the seated Virgin; behind her is St. Joseph and a naked child. The Magi approach from the left, the foremost kneeling; a procession of followers winds through the hilly background.
Object history
Acquired in Naples (10s. 4d.)
Subjects depicted
Summary
This plaquette in bronze, representing The Adoration of the Magi, is made by Moderno in the late 15th or early 16th century in Italy.

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 bookbindings.

MODERNO (1467-1528) (Galeazzo Mondella) is the pseudonym of this goldsmith and medallist active in North Italy and later in Rome. He signed certain pieces of his work with OPUS MODERNI (opus is the Latin term for 'work' - which then means 'work of the modern'). The modern here is referring to the Ancient World, in contrary to the Naturalism of the Gothic. His earliest works may date around 1485-1490, and his earliest dated work is 1490.
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. 32
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, pp. 28,29
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection. Reliefs - Plaquettes - Statuettes - Utensils and Mortars . London: 1965, pp. 44-46
Collection
Accession number
7453-1861

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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