Temperance
Medallion
ca. 1540 -1546 (made)
ca. 1540 -1546 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This medallion depicting Temperance belongs to a series of the eight Cardinal Virtues, five of which are in the V&A collection. Two other medallions are in the Kestner-Museum in Hannover. All the reliefs show the Virtues as seated female figures with a distant landscape and architecture in the background.
Peter Flötner was born in the Thurgau region in Switzerland, but had settled in Nuremberg by 1522. He was a prolific designer, draftsman, medallist and sculptor and cooperated with other Nuremberg artists in providing models and designs. The function of the Cardinal Virtues series was to serve as models for goldsmiths, but the designs were often multiplied in brass or lead and were widely disseminated. Silver-gilt roundels based on the Faith, Hope and Fortitude of this series decorate the so-called Elizabeth I salt cellar in the Tower of London, which was made in London in 1572-73.
Peter Flötner was born in the Thurgau region in Switzerland, but had settled in Nuremberg by 1522. He was a prolific designer, draftsman, medallist and sculptor and cooperated with other Nuremberg artists in providing models and designs. The function of the Cardinal Virtues series was to serve as models for goldsmiths, but the designs were often multiplied in brass or lead and were widely disseminated. Silver-gilt roundels based on the Faith, Hope and Fortitude of this series decorate the so-called Elizabeth I salt cellar in the Tower of London, which was made in London in 1572-73.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Temperance (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Solnhofen limestone |
| Brief description | Medallion, solhofen limestone, Temperance, by Peter Flötner, German (Nuremberg), ca. 1540-46 |
| Physical description | Circular stone medallion or model, used to cast metal plaquettes, depicting Temperance, shown seated on a tree stump in a landscape, pouring water into a bowl containing wine. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Formerly in the Tross Collection. 140 medals and reliefs were purchased from M. Henri Tross of Paris for £500 by J.C. Robinson for the Museum in 1867. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This medallion depicting Temperance belongs to a series of the eight Cardinal Virtues, five of which are in the V&A collection. Two other medallions are in the Kestner-Museum in Hannover. All the reliefs show the Virtues as seated female figures with a distant landscape and architecture in the background. Peter Flötner was born in the Thurgau region in Switzerland, but had settled in Nuremberg by 1522. He was a prolific designer, draftsman, medallist and sculptor and cooperated with other Nuremberg artists in providing models and designs. The function of the Cardinal Virtues series was to serve as models for goldsmiths, but the designs were often multiplied in brass or lead and were widely disseminated. Silver-gilt roundels based on the Faith, Hope and Fortitude of this series decorate the so-called Elizabeth I salt cellar in the Tower of London, which was made in London in 1572-73. |
| Associated objects | |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 184-1867 |
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| Record created | May 18, 2000 |
| Record URL |
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