Old man of the Capponi family
Bust
1450-1500 (made)
1450-1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Clays come from decomposed rocks ground down by weathering. Skill is needed in preparing wet clay to give it strength and ease of modelling, also to remove excess water and air before it is fired in a kiln. Firing fuses the clay particles and causes other structural changes that affect the colour and lead to shrinkage of about 10%. Clay can be modelled by a sculptor to make a unique piece or moulded to produce multiples. Both techniques can be combined to produce one sculpture as in this bust. Here the sculptor has used the two main techniques of working with clay. He modelled the torso but made the head and neck in a mould. Terracotta portrait busts were often made from casts taken in life or after death. In this one the sunken cheeks and reworking around the eyes suggest it was made from a death mask.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Old man of the Capponi family (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Terracotta, made from moulded and modelled clay |
| Brief description | Bust of an old man of the Capponi family, terracotta, Italy (Florence) ca. 1450-1500 |
| Physical description | The bust, which is cut off through the elbows and below the chest, and is modelled fully in the round, shows an elderly clean-shaven man with receding hair worn down the neck. His head is turned slightly to the left. He wars a plain tunic. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | Terracotta portrait busts were often made from casts taken in life or after death. The sunken cheeks and reworking around the eyes suggest that this bust was made from a death mask, but the sitter has not been identified. The scale of this bust, being slightly less than life-size, is due to the shrinkage of the clay in firing. Here the sculptor has used the two main techniques of working with clay. He modelled the torso but made the head and neck in a mould. |
| Summary | Clays come from decomposed rocks ground down by weathering. Skill is needed in preparing wet clay to give it strength and ease of modelling, also to remove excess water and air before it is fired in a kiln. Firing fuses the clay particles and causes other structural changes that affect the colour and lead to shrinkage of about 10%. Clay can be modelled by a sculptor to make a unique piece or moulded to produce multiples. Both techniques can be combined to produce one sculpture as in this bust. Here the sculptor has used the two main techniques of working with clay. He modelled the torso but made the head and neck in a mould. Terracotta portrait busts were often made from casts taken in life or after death. In this one the sunken cheeks and reworking around the eyes suggest it was made from a death mask. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 4906-1858 |
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| Record created | April 6, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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