Physical description

A naked male corpse lying in a coffin, the head resting on pillows and a sheet with a black coverlet pulled up to the chest. The background is black glass, decorated with white wax swags to resemble the lining of a coffin. A gilt crucifix is placed at the corpse's shoulder. A modelled clock standing at midnight and two lit candles painted onto the background decorate the coffin above the pillows. The scene is mounted in a deep stained and gilded box frame and is inscribed on the back.

Place of Origin

Naples (made)

Date

1620-1630 (made)

Artist/maker

Azzolino, Giovanni Bernardino, born 1572 - died 1645 (sculptor)

Materials and Techniques

Relief, coloured wax on painted glass in deep stained and gilt box frame.

Marks and inscriptions

'Mors Malis Vita Bonis'
on back of frame

Dimensions

Height: 26 cm, Width: 24 cm, Depth: 6 cm

Object history note

This wax is one of a set of four which have previously been described as having been produced by the workshop of Giulio Gaetano Zumbo, following John Pope-Hennessy's attribution of other related waxes already in the collection at the time of their acquisition (A.65 & 66-1938; Pope-Hennessy 1964, op.cit.). However, more recently historian Gabriele Finaldi (1994, op. cit.) has attributed similar waxes, formerly on the New York art market, to the painter and sculptor Giovan Bernardino Azzolino (c.1572-1645), known to have been a wax-modeller, which also represent souls in Paradise, Purgatory and Hell, which suggests that these may also be by the same artist.

Purchased from Ferrando, Rome, April 1931 by the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine. Given by the Wellcome Institute in 1982, together with A.20 / 21 / 22-1982.

Descriptive line

Relief, coloured wax, Soul at Death, possibly by Giovanni Bernardino Azzolino, Italian, probably 1620s

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

cf. for related version: Finaldi, Gabriele, 'Giulio de Grazia: Medallist to the Spanish Viceroys of Naples', in: The Medal, no. 24, Spring 1994, pp. 3-7, see fig.2.
cf. Pope-Hennessy, John, assisted by Lightbown, Ronald. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: HMSO, 1964, vol.2, pp. 633-4, cat. nos 674, 675; vol.3, figs 665, 666.

Labels and date

Waxes showing the fate of the soul

These dramatic and highly realistic wax sculptures depict the possible fate of the immortal soul. According to Catholic doctrine, the soul is judged at death and sent to Heaven for eternal reward, Hell for eternal punishment, or Purgatory for a period of purifying repentance. These sculptures were probably for private devotion, a potent reminder of the terrifying fate of damnation and that time in Purgatory could be lessened through the prayers of the living.

A Soul at Death
About 1620–30

Italy (Naples)

Possibly by Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino

Coloured wax on painted glass

Inscribed on the back of the frame in Latin ‘Death to the bad, life to the good’

Given by the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine

Museum no. A.19-1982

A Damned Soul
About 1700

Italy (Naples)

In the style of Gaetano Giulio Zumbo

Coloured wax on glass and painted copper, with mirror glass, quartz and mica

Bequeathed by Lady de Gex

Museum no. A.66-1938

A Blessed Soul
About 1700

Italy (Naples)

In the style of Gaetano Giulio Zumbo

Coloured wax on glass and painted copper, with mirror glass, quartz and mica

Bequeathed by Lady de Gex

Museum no. A.65-1938

A Soul in Purgatory
About 1620–30

Italy (Naples)

Possibly by Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino

Coloured wax on painted glass

Inscribed on the back of the frame in Latin ‘Have mercy upon me'

Given by the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine

Museum no. A.20-1982 [09.12.2015]

Subjects depicted

Coffin; Crucifix

Categories

Death; Sculpture; Waxes

Collection

Sculpture Collection