Sacrifice to Flora
Intaglio
ca. 1500-1550 (made)
ca. 1500-1550 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This moulded glass plaque depicts an imaginary scene in which various figures gather to make a sacrifice at an altar. It was probably cast from a bronze relief as bronze versions of the same subject exist. Both the glass cast and the bronzes are probably reproductions of an original rock crystal intaglio (a carving hollowed out of the surface) by Valerio Belli (lived about 1468-1546).
Belli was a famous engraver of hardstones and gems, in particular rock crystal. He spent the most important part of his career in Rome working at the papal court under two successive popes. He also worked in Vicenza, his native city. He is particularly celebrated as an engraver of rock crystal, and many casts in bronze exist of his engravings.
Belli was a famous engraver of hardstones and gems, in particular rock crystal. He spent the most important part of his career in Rome working at the papal court under two successive popes. He also worked in Vicenza, his native city. He is particularly celebrated as an engraver of rock crystal, and many casts in bronze exist of his engravings.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Sacrifice to Flora (popular title) |
| Materials and techniques | Venetian glass paste with silver mounting |
| Brief description | 'A Sacrifice to Flora', intaglio in Venetian glass paste with silver mounting, School of Valerio Belli, Italy, 16th century |
| Physical description | 'A Sacrifice to Flora', intaglio in Venetian glass paste with silver mounting. A draped female figure pours a libation at an altar behind which grows a small tree. Behind her are four women draped and walking to the right; the first is playing cymbals, the second (forming the central figure of the composition) bears a basket of grapes on her head, the third carries a wand or thyrsus, and the fourth is looking back. In the background and arcade supported on four columns and decorated. The silver mount has a twisted moulding on the edge. Broken and chipped, the ring of the silver mount has broken off. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Purchased from M. Stora & Co. Historical significance: Probably moulded from an impression of a hardstone intaglio engraving by Valerio Belli. Kris describes this version incorrectly as 'chalcedony', a description which has persisted elsewhere, eg Bargello catalogue. Exists in Tassie's casts (no. 8410). For two bronze plaquettes of the same image see Burns et al, 2000. One of a group of images of the same subject after Valerio Belli, this intaglio has similarities to the Museum's gilt bronze plaquette (A.480-1910). |
| Historical context | Shows how images known from engraved gems and hardstones persisted and often appeared again, in form of glass casts, bronze plaquettes and small reliefs. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This moulded glass plaque depicts an imaginary scene in which various figures gather to make a sacrifice at an altar. It was probably cast from a bronze relief as bronze versions of the same subject exist. Both the glass cast and the bronzes are probably reproductions of an original rock crystal intaglio (a carving hollowed out of the surface) by Valerio Belli (lived about 1468-1546). Belli was a famous engraver of hardstones and gems, in particular rock crystal. He spent the most important part of his career in Rome working at the papal court under two successive popes. He also worked in Vicenza, his native city. He is particularly celebrated as an engraver of rock crystal, and many casts in bronze exist of his engravings. |
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| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.17-1921 |
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| Record created | February 23, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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