The Virgin and Child in a niche
Plaquette
1440-1450 (made)
1440-1450 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440s with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector’s pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings. Almost all the small-scale reliefs and plaquettes produced by Donatello and his workshop are religious in subject matter. They usually depict the Virgin and Child. Most of the plaquettes would have been used for private devotion or set into paxes.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | The Virgin and Child in a niche (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Bronze |
Brief description | Plaquette, bronze, the Virgin and Child in a niche, workshop of Donatello, Italy (Florence), mid 15th century |
Physical description | Plaquette depicts the Virgin seated holding Christ on her left, in front of a shell-shaped niche. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | Plaquettes are small plaques made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440s with the desire to reproduce coins and hardstone engravings from ancient Greece and Rome. Some were made as collector’s pieces, to be viewed and displayed in private, and others for practical purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings. Almost all the small-scale reliefs and plaquettes produced by Donatello and his workshop are religious in subject matter. They usually depict the Virgin and Child. Most of the plaquettes would have been used for private devotion or set into paxes. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.406-1910 |
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Record created | October 20, 2004 |
Record URL |
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