The Banishment of Coriolanus thumbnail 1
On display
Image of Gallery in South Kensington

The Banishment of Coriolanus

Plaquette
1509-1516 (made)
Artist/Maker
Moderno (maker)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

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. This plaquette and inv.no. A.447-1910 were copied from a silvered copper inkwell here in the V&A. Their moulded edges suggest that they probably formed part of a casket or a similar inkwell.

Object details

Categories
Sculpture
Plaques & Plaquettes
Metalwork
Object type
Plaquette
TitleThe Banishment of Coriolanus (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, depicting the banishment of Coriolanus, in the manner of Moderno, Italy, ca. 1509-1516
Physical description
Bronze plaquette with a double moulded rim depicting the banishment of Coriolanus. To the left a Roman official seated on a platform, the base marked 'SPQR'; beside him stands a man in a toga handing a scroll to an armed warrior; a second armed warrior stands to the right looking on.
Dimensions
  • Height: 43cm
  • Width: 50.5cm
Marks and inscriptions
'SPQR' (Emblem of authority in Republican and later Imperial Rome. Li: For the Senate and the people of Rome.)
Translation
'Senatus Populis que Romanes'
Object history
One of a series of plaquettes illustrating the life of Coriolanus.
Acquired in London with together 219-1906, for £10 10s.
Production
formerly attributed to the Coriolanus Master
Subjects depicted
Man
Scroll
Warrior
Coriolanus
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. This plaquette and inv.no. A.447-1910 were copied from a silvered copper inkwell here in the V&A. Their moulded edges suggest that they probably formed part of a casket or a similar inkwell.
Associated object
219-1906 (Series)
Bibliographic references
  • List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1905 - 1908. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1906, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, 1909, p. 36
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 40
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
220-1906

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdOctober 27, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106795/the-banishment-of-coriolanus-plaquette-moderno/
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest