A hunting scene thumbnail 1
A hunting scene thumbnail 2
Not currently on display at the V&A

A hunting scene

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

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. The plaquettes with a secular subject matter were usually for private, personal use. They were used as pendants, desk ornaments, and applied to functional objects such as pounce-pots. They were also valued as fine miniature works of art. Plaquettes had a role in disseminating classical imagery and designs throughout Europe, in the same manner as the contemporary print. The subject matter was often a miniature composition, only rarely a single isolated figure.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleA hunting scene (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, a hunting scene, perhaps by Matteo del Nassaro, Italy, first half of 16th century
Physical description
Six horsemen, all in violent movement, with spears and swords. On the ground two lions, one attacking a fallen horse and two hounds and the other attacked by three hounds.
Dimensions
  • Height: 3.1cm
  • Width: 4.9cm
Credit line
Salting Bequest
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subjects depicted
Summary
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. The plaquettes with a secular subject matter were usually for private, personal use. They were used as pendants, desk ornaments, and applied to functional objects such as pounce-pots. They were also valued as fine miniature works of art. Plaquettes had a role in disseminating classical imagery and designs throughout Europe, in the same manner as the contemporary print. The subject matter was often a miniature composition, only rarely a single isolated figure.
Bibliographic references
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 77
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 68
Collection
Accession number
A.482-1910

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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