The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence

Inkstand
ca. 1650 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This triangular bronze inkstand is representing the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence and is made in the middle of the 17th century in Florence.
The great majority of bronzes produced during the Italian Renaissance were made for use, so-called 'functional bronzes', which, however beautiful in their own right, nevertheless had some practical use beyond simple ornament.
St. Lawrence (d. 258) was a deacon and martyr in Rome. Not a lot is known about his life, but he was closely associated with Pope Sixtus II, who was martyred a few days before him in the persecution of Valerian.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 3 parts.

  • Inkstand
  • Fragment
  • Fragment
TitleThe Martyrdom of St. Lawrence (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Inkstand, bronze, the Martyrdom of St. Lawrence, Italy (Florence), ca. 1650
Dimensions
  • Height: 19.4cm
Object history
Purchased with the aid of a contribution from the bequest of Captain H.B. Murray (£852) and (£112 from Purchase Grant), in 1963, for a total of £964 12s. 7d. Bought from French & Co, New York (2, 700 Dollar).
Production
formerly ascribed to Ferdinando Tacca
Subject depicted
Summary
This triangular bronze inkstand is representing the Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence and is made in the middle of the 17th century in Florence.
The great majority of bronzes produced during the Italian Renaissance were made for use, so-called 'functional bronzes', which, however beautiful in their own right, nevertheless had some practical use beyond simple ornament.
St. Lawrence (d. 258) was a deacon and martyr in Rome. Not a lot is known about his life, but he was closely associated with Pope Sixtus II, who was martyred a few days before him in the persecution of Valerian.
Bibliographic reference
Bode, W., Collection of J. Pierpont Morgan: Bronzes of the Renaissance and Subsequent Periodes, Paris 1910, (2 vols)
Collection
Accession number
A.3:1-1963

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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