Apollo and Marsyas
Plaquette
1475-1500 (made)
1475-1500 (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. This was cast from an antique cornelian intaglio in the Medici collection. The satyr Marsyas was a skilled flute-player who was forced into a musical contest with Apollo. Apollo won the contest and ordered Marsyas to be tied to a pine tree and flayed alive.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Apollo and Marsyas (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Plaquette, bronze, Apollo and Marsyas, Italy (Florence), ca. 1475-1500 |
| Physical description | Plaquette depicts on the right Apollo standing with lyre and plectrum. At his feet the young Olympus kneeling for mercy. On the left Marsyas seated on a skin. Inscription. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions | 'LAV . R . MED . ' |
| 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. This was cast from an antique cornelian intaglio in the Medici collection. The satyr Marsyas was a skilled flute-player who was forced into a musical contest with Apollo. Apollo won the contest and ordered Marsyas to be tied to a pine tree and flayed alive. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.402-1910 |
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| Record created | May 9, 2005 |
| Record URL |
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