Christ thumbnail 1
Christ thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Cast Courts, Room 46b, The Weston Cast Court

Christ

Electrotype
1618-1621 (sculpted), ca. 1866 (cast)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is an electrotype of an original bronze Christ in the Cathedral of Pisa by Felice Palma, made in Florence in about 1618-21. The electrotype is made by Messrs Giovanni Franci & Son, London, ca. 1866.

The original of this figure of Christ stands above a marble holy water stoup opposite a group surmounted by a companion figure of St. John the Baptist (museum no. 1866-21) on either side of the nave of Pisa Cathedral. The electrotypes of both figures were purchased in 1866 as copies of works by Giambologna (Giovanni Bologna) (1529-1608), but they are signed on their bases FEL.PARMA SCVL. Both the groups and the figures of Christ and St John were commissioned by the operaio of the cathedral, Curzio Ceuli, who recorded in 1618 that he had commissioned the bronze figures from "Felice Palma scultore in Firenze" (Felice Palma, sculptor in Florence) and that he had not yet received them. They must have been delivered in 1621 when he ordered two marble pedestals to support the figures above the groups from the marble carver, Francesco Cioli.

The eletrotype is displayed in one of the two magnificent Cast Courts at the V&A. Since they were first opened in 1873, these galleries have displayed reproductions of some of the most significant monuments of medieval and Renaissance Europe. In these galleries one can view plaster casts of sculptures from Renaissance Italy, notably some of the masterpieces produced by Donatello, Luca della Robbia and Michelangelo.
The sculptures are faithful copies of the originals. They were made in the 19th century, when the vogue for replicated works of art was at its height. Museum visitors at that time generally had little opportunity to travel abroad, and illustrated art books were costly. These superb casts could afford people a rare glimpse of the original sculptures, even if they could not visit Florence or Rome. Artists and designers then and now could likewise sketch and learn from them.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleChrist (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Electrotype copper
Brief description
Electrotype (statuette), of Christ, after the bronze original by Felice Palma in the Cathedral Pisa, Florence, 1618-21, cast by Messrs Giovanni Franchi, London, ca. 1866
Dimensions
  • Height: 105.5cm
  • Width: 29.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
FEL.PARMA SCVL (Felice Palma)
Gallery label
The original bronze sculpture is in Pisa Cathedral. It is part of a group that includes a figure of St John the Baptist, also reproduced and displayed nearby. The electrotypes were made in the 19th century by the London-based firm Franchi and Son. The Museum acquired them believing they were reproductions of sculptures by Giambologna, despite Felice Palma’s signature on the originals.(2014)
Object history
Purchased from Messrs Franchi & Sons in 1866 for £25.
Historical context
The original of the pendant figure of St John the Baptist (museum no. 1866-21) stands above a marble holy water stoup opposite a group surmounted by a companion figure of Christ on either side of the nave of Pisa Cathedral. The electrotypes of both figures were purchased in 1866 as copies of works by Giambologna (Giovanni Bologna) (1529-1608), but they are signed on their bases FEL.PARMA SCVL. Both the groups and the figures of Christ and St John were commissioned by the operaio of the cathedral, Curzio Ceuli, who recorded in 1618 that he had commissioned the bronze figures from "Felice Palma scultore in Firenze" (Felice Palma, sculptor in Florence) and that he had not yet received them. They must have been delivered in 1621 when he ordered two marble pedestals to support the figures above the groups from the marble carver, Francesco Cioli.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is an electrotype of an original bronze Christ in the Cathedral of Pisa by Felice Palma, made in Florence in about 1618-21. The electrotype is made by Messrs Giovanni Franci & Son, London, ca. 1866.

The original of this figure of Christ stands above a marble holy water stoup opposite a group surmounted by a companion figure of St. John the Baptist (museum no. 1866-21) on either side of the nave of Pisa Cathedral. The electrotypes of both figures were purchased in 1866 as copies of works by Giambologna (Giovanni Bologna) (1529-1608), but they are signed on their bases FEL.PARMA SCVL. Both the groups and the figures of Christ and St John were commissioned by the operaio of the cathedral, Curzio Ceuli, who recorded in 1618 that he had commissioned the bronze figures from "Felice Palma scultore in Firenze" (Felice Palma, sculptor in Florence) and that he had not yet received them. They must have been delivered in 1621 when he ordered two marble pedestals to support the figures above the groups from the marble carver, Francesco Cioli.

The eletrotype is displayed in one of the two magnificent Cast Courts at the V&A. Since they were first opened in 1873, these galleries have displayed reproductions of some of the most significant monuments of medieval and Renaissance Europe. In these galleries one can view plaster casts of sculptures from Renaissance Italy, notably some of the masterpieces produced by Donatello, Luca della Robbia and Michelangelo.
The sculptures are faithful copies of the originals. They were made in the 19th century, when the vogue for replicated works of art was at its height. Museum visitors at that time generally had little opportunity to travel abroad, and illustrated art books were costly. These superb casts could afford people a rare glimpse of the original sculptures, even if they could not visit Florence or Rome. Artists and designers then and now could likewise sketch and learn from them.
Associated object
Collection
Accession number
REPRO.1866-20

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Record createdJune 22, 2000
Record URL
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