Not currently on display at the V&A

Blessed Soul

Wax Relief
17th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Azzolino, Giovanni Bernardino (sculptor)
Place of origin
Naples (made)

The wax is one of a set of four which have previously been descibed as "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).
Finaldi (see bibliography) ascribes similar, but not identical waxes to both Azzolino and Giulio de Grazia.


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Religion
Christianity
Waxes
Object type
Wax relief
TitleBlessed Soul (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Coloured wax on painted glass in deep stained and gilt box frame
Brief description
Relief, coloured wax, Blessed Soul, by Giovanni Bernardino Azzolino, Italian, 17th century
Physical description
The bust is of a female "soul". She casts her eyes upwards. Her blond hair is decorated with four white roses. She wears a white gown sprigged with gold flowers. The 'V' shaped neck of the gown has a band decorated with pastes and seed pearls, and there are two further necklaces around her neck similarly decorated.
Dimensions
  • Height: 25.5cm
  • Width: 22.1cm
  • Depth: 6cm
Marks and inscriptions
'Beati munde corde'
Credit line
Given by the Trustees of the Wellcome Trust
Object history
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.19 / 20 / 21-1982.
Subjects depicted
Female Head
Roses
Flowers
Summary
The wax is one of a set of four which have previously been descibed as "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).
Finaldi (see bibliography) ascribes similar, but not identical waxes to both Azzolino and Giulio de Grazia.
Associated objects
Bibliographic references
  • Finaldi, G., "Giulio de Grazia: Medallist to the Spanish Viceroys of Naples", in: The Medal, no. 24, Spring 1994, pp. 3-7
  • García Cueto, David, 'On the origianl meanings of Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Anima beata and Anima dannata: Nymph and Satyr?', in: <u>Sculpture Journal, Volume 24.1 [2015], pp. 37-53, ill. p. 43
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.22-1982

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O349016/blessed-soul-wax-relief-azzolino-giovanni-bernardino/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest