Place of Origin

Milan (original, sculpted)
Milan (cast)

Date

1515-1522 (sculpted)
ca. 1884 (cast)

Artist/maker

Bambaia, born 1483 - died 1548 (sculptor)
Pierotti, Edoardo (cast-maker)

Materials and Techniques

Plaster cast

Dimensions

Length: 175.5 cm, Width: 51 cm

Object history note

Purchased from Edoardo Pierotti in 1884 for £12 (300 lire)

Historical context note

Gaston de Foix (1489-1512) was a nephew of king Louis XII of France, and the grandson of Giangaleazzo Visconti, Duke of Milan. He died in the battle of Ravenna on 11 April 1512. At the time of his death, he was governor general of the French forces in Italy, and Viceroy of Milan. His tomb was completed after the entry of King Francois I of France into Milan, on 14 September 1515, but work on the monument was abandoned in 1521/2, when Emperor Charles V and Pope Leo X took Milan. In his will of September 1528, Bambaia left the remaining marble intended for the tomb to the church of S. Marta in Milan, but the project was never to be completed. In the mid-sixteenth century, Vasari saw the unfinished tomb in S. Marta. He described how there were ten reliefs depicting scenes from the Life of Gaston de Foix lying on the floor, not yet built into the monument. While there were many large finished figures, there were also some only half finished, or roughed out. There were also many carvings of foliate decoration and trophies and weapons. At this stage, some of the figures had already been stolen, sold, or placed elsewhere. Since Vasari gave this description, the tomb has suffered further losses. The surviving elements comprise:
i. The effigy, transferred to the Museo Archeologico in Milan in 1806, now in the Castello Sforzesco in Milan (V&A cast 1884-666).
ii. Seven reliefs, with scenes from the life of Gaston de Foix in the Villa Crivelli at Castellazzo, known to have arrived there prior to 1672 (V&A casts 1884-652 to 658).
iii. Six fragmentary statues of Virtues, and other fragments of the monument also at Catellazzo. These entered the Villa between 1673 and 1712 (not represented at the V&A in casts).
iv. Four decorative panels, showing weapons and trophies, in the Museo Civico in Turin (not represented at the V&A in casts).
There are three marble reliefs (museum nos. 7527-1860, 400-1854 and 7260-1857) depicting mythological scenes, in the style of Bambaia, and three figures of Virtues, attributed to Bambaia (museum nos. 4912-1858, 7100-1860 and 332-1903) in the collections of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Both the reliefs of the figures have been connected with the tomb of Gaston de Foix.

Descriptive line

Plaster cast after the marble effigy of Gaston de Foix, originally located in the Church of Santa Marta in Milan, now located in the Castello Sforzesco, Milan, by Agostino Busti (Bambaia), in Milan, in about 1515-22. Cast by Edoardo Pierotti in Milan, about 1884.

Labels and date

Gaston de Foix was a French military leader fatally wounded at the battle of Ravenna. His great tomb was incomplete when the sculptor died. Some of the reliefs, decorative carvings and figures were left half-finished or roughed out. Early on, parts were stolen, sold or placed elsewhere. Fortunately, casts of many parts of the tomb were acquired by the Museum in 1884. [2014]

Production Note

Bambaia is also known as Agostino Busti.

Materials

Plaster

Techniques

Casting

Subjects depicted

Body armour; Funerary art

Categories

Ph_survey; Sculpture

Collection

Sculpture Collection