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Not currently on display at the V&A

Christ driving out the money changers

Plaquette
ca. 1500 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This plaquette depicting Christ driving out the money changers, is made by Valerio Belli, in ca, 1500 in Italy.

It is moulded from an impression of an engraved crystal plaque in the casket of Clement VII in Palazzo Pitti in Florence.

Belli (1468-1546) was born into a respected Vicentine family. He trained as a goldsmith and developed considerable skills in engraving crystals and dies. For Pope Clement VII he created his masterpiece, a crystal casket with 24 scenes from the life of Christ, now in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence.
Belli was strongly influenced by Raphael and Michelangelo.
He had a facility to work very quickly, and Vasari noted that Belli had flooded the world with his works.

Belli spent the most important part of his career in Rome, working for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleChrist driving out the money changers (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, Christ driving out the money-changers, by Valerio Belli, Italy, ca.1500
Physical description
This plaquette depicts Christ, with upraised whip, facing to the right, and driving out of the temple two men preceded by two women with baskets on their heads, the former of whom leads a child. In the background to the left is the temple, a collonaded building on the frieze of which is the signature VALERIVS. VIN. Narrow moulded rim
Dimensions
  • Height: 5.8cm
  • Width: 5.8cm
Marks and inscriptions
'VALERIVS. VIN.' (Signature on the frieze of the depicted building)
Historical context
Moulded from an impression of an engraved crystal plaque in the casket of Clement VII in the Uffici in Florence.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This plaquette depicting Christ driving out the money changers, is made by Valerio Belli, in ca, 1500 in Italy.

It is moulded from an impression of an engraved crystal plaque in the casket of Clement VII in Palazzo Pitti in Florence.

Belli (1468-1546) was born into a respected Vicentine family. He trained as a goldsmith and developed considerable skills in engraving crystals and dies. For Pope Clement VII he created his masterpiece, a crystal casket with 24 scenes from the life of Christ, now in the Palazzo Pitti in Florence.
Belli was strongly influenced by Raphael and Michelangelo.
He had a facility to work very quickly, and Vasari noted that Belli had flooded the world with his works.

Belli spent the most important part of his career in Rome, working for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone.
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. 31
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 63
Collection
Accession number
7372-1861

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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