Pope Alexander VII
Statuette
1660 (made)
1660 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
In accordance with contemporary practice in 17th-century Florence, when planning a new work, a sculptor usually made preliminary drawings and then a model. The models sometimes formed part of the sculptor’s contract with the patron. They could be rough or detailed, large or small, and were made in clay, terracotta, wood and wax.
This seems to be Dosio’s first sketch model for the copper statue of Pope Alexander VII that he made for the Palazzo Pubblico at Bologna in 1660. Although the finished statue is slightly different – probably in response to the advice of Cardinal Girolamo Farnese, who commissioned the monument – its base follows that of the model.
This seems to be Dosio’s first sketch model for the copper statue of Pope Alexander VII that he made for the Palazzo Pubblico at Bologna in 1660. Although the finished statue is slightly different – probably in response to the advice of Cardinal Girolamo Farnese, who commissioned the monument – its base follows that of the model.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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Title | Pope Alexander VII (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Wax, partly draped in stiffened linen |
Brief description | Sketch model of Pope Alexander VII, wax and stiffened linen model by Dorastante Dosio, Italian (Florentine), 1660 |
Physical description | Wax model, partly drapped in stiffened linen. The Pope is seated with his right hand raised in benediction. On the front of the gilded and pigmented wooden base is the inscription: ALEX. VII / PONT. MAX. / BENEFACTORI / HIERONYMVS CARD. FARNES / LEGATUS / ANNO M.D.C.L.X. The left side is inscribed with the words: PROTOTYPVM / SIMVLACRI / SITVATI IN / AVLA / HELVETICORVm / A / DORASTANTE / OSIO FLORENTINO CONSTRVCTUm. On the right side are the words: CVRATORE / ILLmo. DOMmo. / SENATre. / MARCH ne. / BAYVLIVO / FERDINANDO / DE COSPIIS / EX MANDATis / EMmi. LEGATI. |
Dimensions |
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Marks and inscriptions |
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Object history | Sketch for a copper statue in the Palazzo Pubblico, Bologna. Formerly in the collection of George Richmond, R.A. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | In accordance with contemporary practice in 17th-century Florence, when planning a new work, a sculptor usually made preliminary drawings and then a model. The models sometimes formed part of the sculptor’s contract with the patron. They could be rough or detailed, large or small, and were made in clay, terracotta, wood and wax. This seems to be Dosio’s first sketch model for the copper statue of Pope Alexander VII that he made for the Palazzo Pubblico at Bologna in 1660. Although the finished statue is slightly different – probably in response to the advice of Cardinal Girolamo Farnese, who commissioned the monument – its base follows that of the model. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.60:1, 2-1921 |
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Record created | January 8, 2004 |
Record URL |
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