Hercules between Minerva and Venus
Plaquette
ca. 1500-1550 (made), first half of 16th century (made)
ca. 1500-1550 (made), first half of 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Plaquettes are small, often one-sided, reliefs. They may be made of bronze (as here), brass, lead or precious materials. They originated in the 1440s, often from a desire to reproduce or imitate images known from coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome, and sometimes as reproductions of contemporary engraved gems. This is one of around 13 examples of the same scene which are known to exist, including two hardstone cameos, and plaquettes in lead and bronze.
The scene, The Choice of Hercules, is taken from classical mythology. The seated figure of Hercules chooses between Virtue and Vice, here personified by the two goddesses Minerva (with a helmet) and Venus.
Some plaquettes were made as collectors’ pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private. Others were created for practical or devotional purposes, such as decorations for caskets, ink-stands and paxes.
The style is that of the gem-engraver Valerio Belli (around 1468-1546), who worked for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone. In this case, however, no rock crystal original has yet been identified. The bronzes would have been cast from a plaster or brass mould made from the original hardstone engraving.
The scene, The Choice of Hercules, is taken from classical mythology. The seated figure of Hercules chooses between Virtue and Vice, here personified by the two goddesses Minerva (with a helmet) and Venus.
Some plaquettes were made as collectors’ pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private. Others were created for practical or devotional purposes, such as decorations for caskets, ink-stands and paxes.
The style is that of the gem-engraver Valerio Belli (around 1468-1546), who worked for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone. In this case, however, no rock crystal original has yet been identified. The bronzes would have been cast from a plaster or brass mould made from the original hardstone engraving.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Hercules between Minerva and Venus (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Plaquette, bronze, depicting Hercules between Minerva and Venus, made in Italy, probably by Valerio Belli, Italy, first half of the 16th century |
| Physical description | Oval bronze plaquette with naked figure of Hercules seated draped in a lion's skin at the left and holding his club. In front of him stand Minerva, helmetted and holding a spear and an olive branch, and Venus, leading Cupid by the hand. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | Inscription: INSTAR. and stamped B.M (Inscription is in the exergue. The stamped initials BM stand for the Baron de Monville, in whose collection the plaquette was at one time.)
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| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | Salting Bequest, from the collection of the Baron de Monville. Historical significance: Probably cast from a mould made of a rock crystal or hardstone carving by Valerio Belli. For other examples of the plaquette see Burns et al, 2000. There is also a version in the British Museum which is signed by Valerio Belli. The iconography relates to the story of Hercules at the cross-roads, or the choice of Hercules. Related hardstone versions exist in Berlin and Naples. The seated figure of Hercules is a reference to one of Michelangelo's slaves in the Sistine chapel. |
| Historical context | Shows how images known from engraved gems and hardstones persisted and often appeared again in bronze plaquettes and small reliefs. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Plaquettes are small, often one-sided, reliefs. They may be made of bronze (as here), brass, lead or precious materials. They originated in the 1440s, often from a desire to reproduce or imitate images known from coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome, and sometimes as reproductions of contemporary engraved gems. This is one of around 13 examples of the same scene which are known to exist, including two hardstone cameos, and plaquettes in lead and bronze. The scene, The Choice of Hercules, is taken from classical mythology. The seated figure of Hercules chooses between Virtue and Vice, here personified by the two goddesses Minerva (with a helmet) and Venus. Some plaquettes were made as collectors’ pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private. Others were created for practical or devotional purposes, such as decorations for caskets, ink-stands and paxes. The style is that of the gem-engraver Valerio Belli (around 1468-1546), who worked for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone. In this case, however, no rock crystal original has yet been identified. The bronzes would have been cast from a plaster or brass mould made from the original hardstone engraving. |
| Associated object | 950-1904 (Version) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.479-1910 |
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| Record created | March 5, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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