Cannon
1566 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
A signature on these cannons records that they were made by the founder 'Nicolai de Bolo' in 1566. 'Bolo' probably stands for Bologna in northern Italy.
A cannon is simply a strong cylinder permanently closed at one end, into which a charge of explosive was placed followed by a stone, iron or lead cannonball. The charge was ignited through a touch-hole, causing it to explode, expelling the ball at a pre-set angle. The most expensive cannon were, like this pair, cast in bronze, and were bored so that the cannonballs fitted closely preventing air from escaping around the cannonball.
Cannon were extremely heavy and difficult to manoeuvre on a battlefield but, from a set position, could wreak havoc on cavalry, infantry and on castle walls. Most cannon were cast with two horizontal pins (trunnions) projecting from their sides to allow them to be fitted to a gun carriage, and gunners were equipped with supporting charts and instruments to help calculate the correct angle and amount of explosive for a range of distances. Niccolò Tartaglia's La Nova Scientia of 1537 was one of the first detailed studies of the use of such artillery.
As the moulds in which cannon were cast were expensive to produce and could be used repeatedly, set grades of cannon evolved. The bore (width of barrel) makes these guns half-pounders which, according to a number of slightly later English sources, would be variously classified as 'Robinets' or 'Bases'. They took a charge of 1lb of powder.
A cannon is simply a strong cylinder permanently closed at one end, into which a charge of explosive was placed followed by a stone, iron or lead cannonball. The charge was ignited through a touch-hole, causing it to explode, expelling the ball at a pre-set angle. The most expensive cannon were, like this pair, cast in bronze, and were bored so that the cannonballs fitted closely preventing air from escaping around the cannonball.
Cannon were extremely heavy and difficult to manoeuvre on a battlefield but, from a set position, could wreak havoc on cavalry, infantry and on castle walls. Most cannon were cast with two horizontal pins (trunnions) projecting from their sides to allow them to be fitted to a gun carriage, and gunners were equipped with supporting charts and instruments to help calculate the correct angle and amount of explosive for a range of distances. Niccolò Tartaglia's La Nova Scientia of 1537 was one of the first detailed studies of the use of such artillery.
As the moulds in which cannon were cast were expensive to produce and could be used repeatedly, set grades of cannon evolved. The bore (width of barrel) makes these guns half-pounders which, according to a number of slightly later English sources, would be variously classified as 'Robinets' or 'Bases'. They took a charge of 1lb of powder.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Bronze, cast |
| Brief description | Bronze cannon barrel of 'Robinet' or 'Base' size, cast, Italian (Bologna), inscribed: OPVS NICOLAI DE BOLO 1566; Arms and Armour |
| Physical description | Pair of cast bronze cannon barrels, each cast in the same mould, separated into four sections by transverse ribs decorated with pellets, the section nearest the mouth of the barrel decorated with stylised leaves, the sides with projecting trunnions for mounting on a gun-carriage. On the top of the barrels near the base is a crest divided in two, on the right are three birds, the left is unidentifiable. The top of each cannon is signed in the mould "OPVS NICOLAI DE BOLO 1566". The ends of both barrels have been plugged. |
| Marks and inscriptions | 'OPVS NICOLAI DE BOLO 1566' (signature in the mould at the top of each cannon) |
| Credit line | Alfred Williams Hearn Gift |
| Object history | These cannons came to the Museum as part of the Alfred Williams Hearn Gift. The Museum received them from Mrs Ellen Hearn of Villa St Louis, Menton, France in 1923. Their history prior to their ownership by Hearn is unknown. (RF: 20/1053) Historical significance: Nicolai do Bolo was a significant gunfounder working in the Regia Corte of Palermo, at the service of the Spanish crown. |
| Historical context | A cannon is simply a strong cylinder permanently closed at one end, into which a charge of explosive was placed followed by a stone, iron or lead cannonball. The charge was ignited through a touch-hole, causing it to explode, or change to highly compressed gas, very quickly, expelling the ball at a pre-set angle. The best cannon were cast in bronze, and were bored so that the cannonballs fit closely preventing air from escaping around the cannonball. Cannon were extremely heavy and difficult to manoeuvre on a battlefield but, from a set position, could wreak havoc on cavalry, infantry and on castle walls. Most cannon were cast with two horizontal pins (trunnions) projecting from their sides to allow them to be fitted to a gun carriage, and gunners were equipped with supporting charts and instruments to help calculate the correct angle and amount of explosive for a range of distances. Niccolò Tartaglia's La Nova Scientia of 1537 was one of the first detailed studies of the use of artillery. As the moulds in which cannon were cast were expensive to produce and could be used repeatedly, set grades of cannon evolved. The bore (width of barrel) makes these guns half-pounders which, according to a number of slightly later English sources, (Ward, 1639; Norton, 1628; Eldred, 1646; Nye, 1647) would be variously classified as 'Robinets' or 'Bases'. They took a charge of 1lb of powder. Cannon, bells and mortars were, historically, produced in the same workshops. The alloys for each differed slightly with 'gun-metal' of around 90% copper and 10% tin used for cannon. |
| Production | BOLO, in the signature, is probably an abbreviation of Bologna, Italy |
| Summary | A signature on these cannons records that they were made by the founder 'Nicolai de Bolo' in 1566. 'Bolo' probably stands for Bologna in northern Italy. A cannon is simply a strong cylinder permanently closed at one end, into which a charge of explosive was placed followed by a stone, iron or lead cannonball. The charge was ignited through a touch-hole, causing it to explode, expelling the ball at a pre-set angle. The most expensive cannon were, like this pair, cast in bronze, and were bored so that the cannonballs fitted closely preventing air from escaping around the cannonball. Cannon were extremely heavy and difficult to manoeuvre on a battlefield but, from a set position, could wreak havoc on cavalry, infantry and on castle walls. Most cannon were cast with two horizontal pins (trunnions) projecting from their sides to allow them to be fitted to a gun carriage, and gunners were equipped with supporting charts and instruments to help calculate the correct angle and amount of explosive for a range of distances. Niccolò Tartaglia's La Nova Scientia of 1537 was one of the first detailed studies of the use of such artillery. As the moulds in which cannon were cast were expensive to produce and could be used repeatedly, set grades of cannon evolved. The bore (width of barrel) makes these guns half-pounders which, according to a number of slightly later English sources, would be variously classified as 'Robinets' or 'Bases'. They took a charge of 1lb of powder. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | M.14-1923 |
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| Record created | November 22, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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