Jupiter thumbnail 1
Jupiter thumbnail 2
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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 117

Jupiter

Figure
ca. 1560s (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This statuette - a firedog figure - representing Jupiter, is made as a model in the circle of Alessandro Vittoria, in Venice in about 1560.
The figure originally surmounted a fire-dog and was not intended as an independent statuette. It is frequently paired with A.19-1961, a figure of Juno, which probably dates from a later period. It is one of numerous copies of a model by Alessandro Vittoria, the finest of which is in the Kunsthistorisces Museum, Vienna. Although possibly produced in Vittoria's workshop, such figures were also reproduced by artisan founders in Venice following the style of the leading sculptors of the day.

Firedogs or andirons were placed within the fireplace and would have been used to hold utensials which were required for tending the fire. Often, firedogs do not even appear on inventories, which indicates their status as standard household objects, not necessarily worthy of particular note.
Firedogs stand either side of the fireplace and hold burning logs above the floor in order to allow an updraft of air.

Vittoria (1525-1608) was an Italian sculptor, stuccoist and architect. In the second half of the 16th century he became one of the most important sculptors active in Venice. On his arrival in Venice in 1543 he worked for Jacopo Sansovino (1486-1570). He left Venice for Vicenza for a period of around 6 years. Apart from that and another short stay in 1576-77 when he worked in Brescia and Vicenca again to avoid the plague, he remained in Venice until his death. He is buried in the church of S. Zaccaria, where there is also a marble self-portrait bust as part of the monument. Portrait busts form a large part of his oevre.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleJupiter (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Leaded bronze, with traces of zinc, antimony and possibly silver.
Brief description
Figure, bronze, from a fire-dog, representing Jupiter, circle of Alessandro Vittoria, Italian (Venice), possibly 1560s
Physical description
Jupiter, nude, stands with his left foot resting on an eagle, poised to hurl the thunderbolt he carries with his right hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 33.5cm
  • Width: 13cm
  • Diameter: 8cm (Note: of base)
  • Weight: 3,316.8g
Credit line
Purchased through the Hildburgh Fund
Object history
The figure originally surmounted a fire-dog and was not intended as an independent statuette. It is frequently paired with A.19-1961, but it probably dates from an earlier period.
Purchased from the Arcade Gallery London, together with A.19-1961 under the bequest of Dr. W. L. Hildburgh, F. S. A., 1961, for £550. It was bought as by the workshop of Allessandro Vittoria.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This statuette - a firedog figure - representing Jupiter, is made as a model in the circle of Alessandro Vittoria, in Venice in about 1560.
The figure originally surmounted a fire-dog and was not intended as an independent statuette. It is frequently paired with A.19-1961, a figure of Juno, which probably dates from a later period. It is one of numerous copies of a model by Alessandro Vittoria, the finest of which is in the Kunsthistorisces Museum, Vienna. Although possibly produced in Vittoria's workshop, such figures were also reproduced by artisan founders in Venice following the style of the leading sculptors of the day.

Firedogs or andirons were placed within the fireplace and would have been used to hold utensials which were required for tending the fire. Often, firedogs do not even appear on inventories, which indicates their status as standard household objects, not necessarily worthy of particular note.
Firedogs stand either side of the fireplace and hold burning logs above the floor in order to allow an updraft of air.

Vittoria (1525-1608) was an Italian sculptor, stuccoist and architect. In the second half of the 16th century he became one of the most important sculptors active in Venice. On his arrival in Venice in 1543 he worked for Jacopo Sansovino (1486-1570). He left Venice for Vicenza for a period of around 6 years. Apart from that and another short stay in 1576-77 when he worked in Brescia and Vicenca again to avoid the plague, he remained in Venice until his death. He is buried in the church of S. Zaccaria, where there is also a marble self-portrait bust as part of the monument. Portrait busts form a large part of his oevre.
Associated object
A.19-1961 (Pair)
Bibliographic references
  • Motture, Peta. “The Production of Firedogs in Renaissance Venice”, in: Motture, Peta (ed.), Large Bronzes in the Renaissance, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2003, pp. 276-307 pp. 286, ill. pp. 293, 294
  • Motture, Peta. “The Production of Firedogs in Renaissance Venice”, in: Motture, Peta (ed.), Large Bronzes in the Renaissance, National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2003, pp. 276-307
Collection
Accession number
A.18-1961

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Record createdJanuary 15, 2004
Record URL
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