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Roundel - The Instruciton of Cupid in Architecture

The Instruciton of Cupid in Architecture

  • Object:

    Roundel

  • Place of origin:

    Venice, Italy (made)

  • Date:

    late 15th century or early 16th century (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Leopardi, Alessandro (maker)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Bronze in relief

  • Museum number:

    A.162-1910

  • Gallery location:

    In Storage

  • Image unavailable

This roundel in relief represents Cupid being instructed in architecture and is made by Alessandro Leopardi in Venice in the late 15th or early 16th century.

Cupid was the son of Venus and god of love and could make both men and gods fall in love with each other at will with his arrows, and thus embodies unbridled passion.
Cupid also continually challenges and causes disorder. Hence, how to bring Cupid under control has been a question since antiquity. The solution was to educate him.
Cupid needs order, proportion, symmetry and good measure. This means education in the discipline of the quadrivium, which consisted of arithmetic, geometry, music and astronomy. All this again is the basis for an education in architecture.
The education of gods and heroes was a popular theme in the Renaissance, mirroring the revival of classical learning.

Physical description

This roudel in relief shows an allegorical subject. To the right is a figure with winged ankles (Mercury), naked except for an elaborately decorated kilt, is seated on a step or bench under a small tree, holding up a tasselled plumb-line in his right hand which he is touching with a pair of callipers in his left. Behind him is seen a lion's head. To the left on another bench is seated an old man with a cloak pointing to ascroll unfolded on a desk before him. Behind him stands a woamn in a loose tunic holding up a small pyramid. In the centre, on the projecting end of the bench opposite to the figure of Mercury, a naked child (Cupid) is seated, testing the plumb-line with a set-square. In the exergue are partially obliterated letters in relief on a label, (M?) A . L . (V? . . .); the whole is sunk within a deep rim.

Place of Origin

Venice, Italy (made)

Date

late 15th century or early 16th century (made)

Artist/maker

Leopardi, Alessandro (maker)

Materials and Techniques

Bronze in relief

Marks and inscriptions

' [M?] A . L . [V? . . .]'

Dimensions

Diameter: 15.55 cm

Object history note

From the Salting bequest.

Descriptive line

Roundel in relief, bronze, the Instruction of Cupid in Architecture, Italy (Venice), late 15th to early 16th century

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

Pope-Hennessy, John. The Italian Plaquette. Proceedings of the British Academy, 1964, p76
'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. 16

Materials

Bronze

Techniques

Relief

Subjects depicted

Tree; Cupid; Bench; Figure, winged; Plumb line

Categories

Sculpture; Architecture; Myths & Legends; Reliefs

Collection code

SCP

Qr_O350070
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