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Relief - The Finding of Moses
  • The Finding of Moses
    Piamontini, Giuseppe, born 1664 - died 1742
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The Finding of Moses

  • Object:

    Relief

  • Place of origin:

    Florence, Italy (made)

  • Date:

    ca. 1700-1710 (made)

  • Artist/Maker:

    Piamontini, Giuseppe, born 1664 - died 1742 (probably, artist)
    Soldani, Massimiliano, born 1656 - died 1740 (probably, casters (people))
    Raphael, born 1483 - died 1520 (after, artist)

  • Materials and Techniques:

    Bronze

  • Credit Line:

    Purchased with the assistance of the John Webb Trust

  • Museum number:

    A.31-1959

  • Gallery location:

    Sculpture, room 111, case 4

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Patination is the process of artificially colouring the surface of the metal or changing its appearance. True patina is created by chemical changes to the surface through long exposure to the elements. Artificial patina is created through the application of drying oils, resins, pigments or acids to protect the surface or to enhance or change the colour of the metal. Heat is sometimes used in this process. The surface can also be enriched by adding
gold (‘gilding’) or silver. This relief and inv. no. A.32-1959 are based on scenes painted by Raphael in the Vatican Loggia in about 1518. The frescoes were not easy to see but prints made after them served as models for work in a variety of media. The reliefs were originally attributed to the Florentine sculptor Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi (1658–1740). However it is now believed that they were made by Giuseppe Piamontini and only cast in Soldani’s foundry.

Physical description

The scene takes place on a river bank. In the centre foreground two kneeling women clasp the basket containing the child Moses. Five female spectators stand behind him. Inscribed on the bottom edge: MAX. SOLDANUS.F.1710.

Place of Origin

Florence, Italy (made)

Date

ca. 1700-1710 (made)

Artist/maker

Piamontini, Giuseppe, born 1664 - died 1742 (probably, artist)
Soldani, Massimiliano, born 1656 - died 1740 (probably, casters (people))
Raphael, born 1483 - died 1520 (after, artist)

Materials and Techniques

Bronze

Marks and inscriptions

'MAX. SOLDANUS.F.1710'.

Dimensions

Height: 25.7 cm, Width: 36.2 cm

Object history note

Bought together with A.32-1959, under the Webb Bequest, for £300.

Descriptive line

Relief, bronze, of the finding of Moses, attributed to Giuseppe Piamontini, Italian (Florence), ca. 1700-10

Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)

Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. Volume II: Text. Sixteenth to Twentieth Century. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1964, p. 589
Pratesi, G, ed. Repertorio della Scultura Fiorentina del seicento e settecento, Umberto Allemandi, 1993, Vol III, pl. 418

Production Note

This relief and its companion (A.32-1959) are based on paintings in the Vatican Loggia by Raphael. They appear to form part of a set of eight reliefs by Giuseppe Piamontini, for which wax models were listed in the inventory of the Doccia ceramic factory. These reliefs were formerly believed to be by the leading Florentine sculptor, Massimiliano Soldani Benzi (1656-1740) as they were inscribed after casting in crude lettering under the base: 'MAX.SOLDANUS. F. 1710'. The inscription differs in both form and quality from all other known signatures by the artist, but the reliefs were possibly cast in his foundry.

Materials

Bronze

Techniques

Casting

Subjects depicted

Women; Baskets; Moses; River-banks

Categories

Sculpture; Christianity; Bronze; Reliefs

Collection code

SCP

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Qr_O89547
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