Tomb of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza
Tomb
1505-1509 (sculpted), 1852-1854 (cast)
1505-1509 (sculpted), 1852-1854 (cast)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Pope Julius II (1503-13) erected a tomb to the memory of his former enemy, Ascanio Sforza, who was the younger brother of Ludovico il Moro, the Duke of Milan (1451-1508). The project for the tomb was first mentioned in a papal brief of 12 June, 1505, less than three weeks after Ascanio's death. The monument is located in the Cappella Maggiore of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome.
This is one of a number of casts which came to the Museum after the disastrous fire at the Crystal Palace at Sydenham in 1936. The Palace itself was destroyed, as were many of the contents, but some plaster casts were salvaged from the inferno, and presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum.
This is one of a number of casts which came to the Museum after the disastrous fire at the Crystal Palace at Sydenham in 1936. The Palace itself was destroyed, as were many of the contents, but some plaster casts were salvaged from the inferno, and presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Tomb of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Plaster cast |
| Brief description | Plaster cast, of the tomb of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza in Rome, after an original by Andrea Sansovino, cast ca. 1852-4 |
| Physical description | Plaster cast, the tomb of Cardinal Ascanio Sforza, after an original by Andrea Sansovino. Inscribed: 'Andreas Sansovinvs Faciebat' |
| Marks and inscriptions | Inscribed: 'Andreas Sansovinvs Faciebat' (Maker's name) |
| Credit line | Given by the Trustees of the Crystal Palace |
| Object history | Given by the Trustees of the Crystal Palace in 1938 |
| Historical context | Signed ANDREAS SANSOVINVS FACIEBAT. Pope Julius II (1503-13) erected this tomb to the memory of his erstwhile adversary Ascanio Sforza (d. 28 May 1505), the son of Francesca Sforza and brother of Ludovico il Moro, the Duke of Milan (1452-1508). In the corresponding position on the right wall of the choir, the Pope commissioned from Andrea Sansovino a closely similar tomb for his nephew, Cardinal Girolamo Basso della Rovere (d. 1507). The project for the tomb of Ascanio Sforza was first mentioned in a papal brief of 12 June, 1505, less than three weeks after his death. Both the Sforza and Basso monuments must have been completed by 3 June, 1509, when they were praised by Francesco Albertini. Because of their close resemblance, it has been suggested that Julius II projected the two monuments together from before the death of his nephew in 1507, as part of the re-modelling of the choir of S. Maria del Popolo undertaken by Bramante (1443/4-1514) at this time. |
| Production | This object is a 19th century cast of the 16th century original. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Pope Julius II (1503-13) erected a tomb to the memory of his former enemy, Ascanio Sforza, who was the younger brother of Ludovico il Moro, the Duke of Milan (1451-1508). The project for the tomb was first mentioned in a papal brief of 12 June, 1505, less than three weeks after Ascanio's death. The monument is located in the Cappella Maggiore of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. This is one of a number of casts which came to the Museum after the disastrous fire at the Crystal Palace at Sydenham in 1936. The Palace itself was destroyed, as were many of the contents, but some plaster casts were salvaged from the inferno, and presented to the Victoria and Albert Museum. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | REPRO.A.1938-12 |
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| Record created | December 7, 1999 |
| Record URL |
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