An Unknown Ecclesiastic, perhaps a Rector of the Collegio Alberoni at Piacenza thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

An Unknown Ecclesiastic, perhaps a Rector of the Collegio Alberoni at Piacenza

Wax Relief
about 1713-1714 (made)
Artist/Maker
Sarti, Angelo (maker)
Place of origin
Bologna (made)

The emblem of the uprooted tree on the tablecloth is that of Cardinal Giulio Alberoni (b.1664; d.1752), the founder of the Collegio Alberoni. The costume is not however that of a cardinal, and it is possible that the sitter is a Rector of the Collegio Alberoni at Piacenza.
Formerly attributed to Angelo Pio the wax is now attributed to Angelo Sarti, who was active between 1713 and 1741.


Object details

Category
Portraits
Object type
Wax relief
TitleAn Unknown Ecclesiastic, perhaps a Rector of the Collegio Alberoni at Piacenza
Materials and techniques
Wax relief
Wax
Relief
Brief description
Relief, wax, An unknown ecclesiastic, attributed to Angelo Sarti (active 1713-1741), Italian (Bologna), about 1713-14
Physical description
Oval relief in coloured wax. The sitter is shown in three-quarter length with head in full face and body turned slightly to the left. He wears a purple garment edged with redr over a lace rochet. His right hand points towards his chest, and his left is extended to a book on a table beside him. The table is covered with a red tablecloth, on which is the coat-of-arms of Cardinal Giulio Alberoni (1664-1752) the founder of the Collegio Alberoni, an uprooted tree surmounted by a cardinal's hat. At the back of the table to the left is a white globe. A yellow doorway at the back opens on to a vista witha tree and sky. The right foreground is filled with a gold-fringed red curtain. In an irregular contemporary blue marbled and gilded frame.
Dimensions
  • Relief height: 15.7cm
  • Relief width: 13.5cm
Credit line
Bequeathed by Lady de Gex
Object history
Bequeathed by Lady de Gex in 1938.
Summary
The emblem of the uprooted tree on the tablecloth is that of Cardinal Giulio Alberoni (b.1664; d.1752), the founder of the Collegio Alberoni. The costume is not however that of a cardinal, and it is possible that the sitter is a Rector of the Collegio Alberoni at Piacenza.
Formerly attributed to Angelo Pio the wax is now attributed to Angelo Sarti, who was active between 1713 and 1741.
Bibliographic references
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1964. pp.661
  • Sturgis, Alexander. Presence. The Art of Portrait Sculpture, exhibition catalogue for exhibition held at the Holburne Museum, published by the Art Collector’s Club Ltd, Old Martlesham Woodbridge, Suffolk, UK, 2012, cat. no. 53, p. 83, illus. p. 84
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.73-1938

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Record createdMarch 15, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O96709/an-unknown-ecclesiastic-perhaps-a-wax-relief-sarti-angelo/
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