Alexander's triumphal entry into Babylon thumbnail 1
Alexander's triumphal entry into Babylon thumbnail 2
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

Alexander's triumphal entry into Babylon

Relief
ca. 1675-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Gaulette, Jean (made)
Place of origin
Dieppe (made)
Dieppe (made)

This relief medallion formed part of a series of The Life of Alexander the Great. Originally, it would have probably been inset into a richly decorated cabinet.


Object details

Categories
Access_to_Images 2003
Sculpture
Object type
Relief
TitleAlexander's triumphal entry into Babylon (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Mother of pearl in a carved wood frame
Mother of Pearl
Wood
Brief description
Alexander's triumphal entry into Babylon, mother of pearl, by Jean Gaulette, Dieppe (France), late 17th century
Physical description
Circular relief in mother of pearl in a carved wood frame. Signed 'JOHANNES / GAULETTE / FECIT'. Alexander in armour is driving his chariot surrounded by rioting soldiers and the cowering population. In the background elaborate architecture; at the foot a trophy of arms.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 15.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'JOHANNES / GAULETTE / FECIT.' (on front)
Credit line
Alfred Williams Hearn Gift
Production
Previously entitled 'The Triumph of Coriolanus'.
Subjects depicted
Chariot
Trophies (Motif)
Alexander the Great
Summary
This relief medallion formed part of a series of The Life of Alexander the Great. Originally, it would have probably been inset into a richly decorated cabinet.
Associated object
A.34-1923
Bibliographic references
  • Pierre Ickowicz, "Jean Gaulette, sculpteur et ivoirier dieppois", in Barocke Kunststueckh. Sculpture Studies in Honour of Christian Theuerkauff, Marjorie Trusted and Regine Marth (eds), Munich, 2011, p. 89, fig. 3
  • Theuerkauff, C. Johan Leanhard Baur, a German 'Kleinmeister' of the baroque. Apollo. April 1986, CXXIII. pp. 274-279.
  • Theuerkauff, C. Die Bildwerke der Skulpturengalerie Berlin. 2. Die Bildwerke in Elfenbein des 16-19. Jahrhunders. Berlin, 1986. pp. 136-137. note. 14.
  • Theuerkauff, C. Kleinplastik des Basock: Werke von Jean Gaulette, Michael Mollast und Anderen Französischen Zeitgenossen. Kunst und Antiquitäten. I, 85. pp. 46-53. fig. 11.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.33-1923

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Record createdJanuary 8, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O88804/alexanders-triumphal-entry-into-babylon-relief-gaulette-jean/
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