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

The Crucifixion

Relief
2nd half 15th century (sculpted), ca. 1890 (cast)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Bertoldo di Giovanni was a pupil of Donatello, who later ran Lorenzo de' Medici's Academy for sculptors, where he taught the young Michelangelo. The Crucifixion is one of three works by Bertoldo listed in the inventory of Lorenzo de' Medici's possessions of 1492. The piece was and is admired for its mastery of flat relief and the poignant emotive scene.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleThe Crucifixion (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Plaster cast
Brief description
Plaster cast of a relief of The Crucifixion with Attendant Saints after the bronze original by Bertoldo Di Giovanni in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello), Florence, second half of the 15th century
Physical description
Plaster cast of The Crucifixion with Attendant Saints after the bronze original by Bertoldo di Giovanni in the Museo Nazionale (Bargello), Florence, second half of the 15th century.
Dimensions
  • Height: 61.5cm
  • Width: 61.5cm
Object history
Purchased from Oronzio Lelli in 1890 for 16s (20 lire)
Historical context
Bertoldo di Giovanni was a pupil of Donatello (1386-1466) who towards the end of his life ran Lorenzo de' Medici's academy for sculptors where he taught the young Michelangelo (1475-1564). The Crucifixion comes from the Medici collection and is one of three works by Bertoldo listed in the inventory of Lorenzo de' Medici's possessions taken in 1492, the other two being the bronze Battle Relief, also in the Museo Nazionale, and a Centaur, which is now lost. The entry reads "Una storietta di bronzo di br 1 per ogni verso, entori uno Christo crucifixo in mezzo di dua 1 ladroni con otto fighure a pie....." (A small scene of bronze, measuring 1 braccia on all sides, with a figure of Christ on the cross between two thieves and eight standing figures....).
Subject depicted
Summary
Bertoldo di Giovanni was a pupil of Donatello, who later ran Lorenzo de' Medici's Academy for sculptors, where he taught the young Michelangelo. The Crucifixion is one of three works by Bertoldo listed in the inventory of Lorenzo de' Medici's possessions of 1492. The piece was and is admired for its mastery of flat relief and the poignant emotive scene.
Collection
Accession number
REPRO.1890-39

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Record createdJune 26, 2000
Record URL
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