Bust of a child
Bust
1470–1500 (sculpted), ca. 1888 (cast)
1470–1500 (sculpted), ca. 1888 (cast)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bust perhaps represents the young St John the Baptist, and may once have had a pendant figure of the youthful Christ. The della Robbia family were renowned for their work in glazed terracotta, and their sculptures of children were especially admired in Victorian England.
Plaster casts were especially sought after during the 19th century, when reproductions of great works of sculpture and architecture were thought crucial for the training of artists. A separating substance was applied to the surface of the work to be reproduced, and a plaster mould made from that. The mould would then be used to make any number of additional plaster copies. These were often sold to artists, and later in the century to art colleges for study purposes.
Plaster casts were especially sought after during the 19th century, when reproductions of great works of sculpture and architecture were thought crucial for the training of artists. A separating substance was applied to the surface of the work to be reproduced, and a plaster mould made from that. The mould would then be used to make any number of additional plaster copies. These were often sold to artists, and later in the century to art colleges for study purposes.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Bust of a child (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plaster cast painted |
| Brief description | Plaster cast, painted plaster, of a bust of a child after an original glazed terracotta bust (now in the Musée National de la Renaissance, Château d’Écouen, France), by Andrea della Robbia, Italy (Florence), ca. 1470–1500, cast made by jean Pouzadoux, France (Paris), ca. 1888 |
| Physical description | Plaster cast bust of a child. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Gallery label |
|
| Object history | Purchased from Jean Pouzadoux in 1888 for 6s 6d (8 francs). |
| Historical context | This bust may represent the young St John the Baptist and may once have had a pendant figure of the youthful Christ similar to the companion figure (museum no. 1867-182). |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This bust perhaps represents the young St John the Baptist, and may once have had a pendant figure of the youthful Christ. The della Robbia family were renowned for their work in glazed terracotta, and their sculptures of children were especially admired in Victorian England. Plaster casts were especially sought after during the 19th century, when reproductions of great works of sculpture and architecture were thought crucial for the training of artists. A separating substance was applied to the surface of the work to be reproduced, and a plaster mould made from that. The mould would then be used to make any number of additional plaster copies. These were often sold to artists, and later in the century to art colleges for study purposes. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | REPRO.1888-509 |
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
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | December 7, 1999 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest
