Atropos

Physical description

'Atropos', statuette in bronze. The figure represents one of the Three Fates; she is depicted cutting the thread of life, and in her left hand she holds a cocoon.

Place of Origin

Mantua, Italy (made)

Date

ca. 1500 (made)

Artist/maker

Antico (Pier Jacopo di Antonio Alari-Bonacolsi), born 1455 - died 1528 (sculptor)

Materials and Techniques

Bronze

Dimensions

Height: 33.6 cm, Width: 14 cm, Depth: 12 cm, Weight: 2.46 kg

Descriptive line

Atropos, statuette in bronze by Pier Jacopo Alari-Bonacolsi called Antico, Italy (Mantua), ca. 1500.

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

Splendours of the Gonzaga London. Victoria and Albert Museum. 1981.
Hersey Allison, Ann. The Bronzes of Pier Jacopo Alari-Bonacolsi called Antico. Vienna. 1994. pp.50-52, 60, 116-123, ill. p.117.
Review of the Principal Acquisitions during the Year 1931.London: Published under the Authority of the Board of Education. 1932. pp.4-5

Exhibition History

Splendours of the Gonzaga (Victoria and Albert Museum 02/11/1981-31/01/1982)
Italian Bronze Statuettes (Victoria and Albert Museum 26/07/1961-01/10/1961)

Labels and date

ATROPOS
Bronze
by PIER JACOPO ALARI-BONACOLSI called ANTICO (b. about 1460; d. 1528)
MANTUAN; about 1500
A.16-1931
Bequeathed by Sir Otto Beit, Bart

The figure represents one of the Three Fates, the spirits who in Greek and Roman religion were believed to determine man's destiny. She is depicted cutting the thread of life, and in her left hand she holds a cocoon or, in Italian, bozzolo. It is therefore likely that the bronze was made for one of the Gonzaga Lords of Bozzolo, or more probably for Bishop Ludovico Gonzaga (1460-1511) during his residence there around 1500. [1996]

Materials

Bronze

Subjects depicted

Nudes; Classicism; The Fates; Atropos

Categories

Metalwork; Sculpture

Collection code

SCP