Bust of an Unidentified Man thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Bust of an Unidentified Man

Bust
ca. 1575-1590 (made)
Artist/Maker
Menganti, Alessandro (maker)
Place of origin
Bologna (made)

This is a terracotta bust made in Bologna, Italy in about 1575-1590. The bust, representing an unidentified man, has been attributed to Alessandro Menganti (1531-about 1594), the most important Bolognese sculptor of the second half of the 16th century. Menganti was described by his pupil, the painter Agostino Carracci (1557-1602), as 'Michelangelo incognito' (the unknown Michelangelo). The bust relates in style to his bronze statue of Pope Gregory XIII of 1576-80 (Palazzo Pubblico, Bologna).


Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Portraits
Object type
Bust
TitleBust of an Unidentified Man (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Terracotta
Terracotta
Brief description
Bust, terracotta, of an Unidentified Man, attributed to Alessandro Menganti, Italy (Bolgona), ca. 1575-1590
Physical description
The man is bearded and bare-headed and is represented to the waist, wearing a tunic with a falling collar. In his ringed hand he holds a handkerchief against his chest and in his extended left hand is a roll of papers.
There are extensive areas of plaster make-up on the chest to the right and left beneath the collar. There are also smaller areas of make-up to the left temple and on both sleeves. The bust is hollowed out behind.
Dimensions
  • Height: 75.6cm
  • Width: 77.5cm
  • Without the plinth weight: 121kg
Object history
Purchased in Florence (Gagliardi) in 1869.
Production
On acquisition it was thought to be a portrait of Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, an architect (b.1507 d. 1573), based on its resemblance to the engraved portrait on the title page of Vignola's Regola delli Cinque Ordini d'architettura of 1562.
Summary
This is a terracotta bust made in Bologna, Italy in about 1575-1590. The bust, representing an unidentified man, has been attributed to Alessandro Menganti (1531-about 1594), the most important Bolognese sculptor of the second half of the 16th century. Menganti was described by his pupil, the painter Agostino Carracci (1557-1602), as 'Michelangelo incognito' (the unknown Michelangelo). The bust relates in style to his bronze statue of Pope Gregory XIII of 1576-80 (Palazzo Pubblico, Bologna).
Bibliographic references
  • Montagu, Jennifer. Alissandro Algardi. New Haven & London: Yale University Press, 1985, p. 259
  • List of Objects in the Art Division, South Kensington, Acquired During the Year 1869, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., p. 10
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: HMSO, 1964, cat. no. 537, fig. 533
  • Maclagan, Eric and Longhurst, Margaret H. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture. London, 1932, p. 157
  • Bacchi, Andrea. Da Gian Gistoforo Romano ad Allessandro Menfanti: Note Sulla Scultura del Cinquecento a Bologna. Nuovi Studi. 1, 1991, 1, pp. 65-91, fig. 182
  • Bacchi, Andrea and Stefano Tumidei. Il Michelangelo incognito : Alessandro Menganti e le arti a Bologna nell'età della Controriforma. Ferrara: Edisai, 2002, cat. no. 29., pp. 199-200. Catalogue of the exhibition held Museo Civico Medievale, Bologna.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
120-1869

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdOctober 28, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O68789/bust-of-an-unidentified-man-bust-menganti-alessandro/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest