An Antique Sacrifice
Plaquette
ca. 1500-1550 (made), first half of 16th century (made)
ca. 1500-1550 (made), first half of 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Plaquettes are small reliefs 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 or devotional purposes, such as decorations for caskets, ink-stands and paxes. Belli spent the most important part of his career in Rome, working for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone. The bronze would have been cast from a plaster or brass mould made from an original hardstone engraving.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | An Antique Sacrifice (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Gilded bronze |
Brief description | Plaquette, gilded bronze, depicting an antique sacrifice, probably by Valerio Belli, Italy, ca. 1500-1550 |
Physical description | An oval plaquette in gilded bronze. In the centre a garlanded altar surrounded by six male and female figures, one playing a lyre, one offering a burning censer and others carrying branches, and thyrsus and other offerings. In the background an arch supported on columns and decorated with floral swags. |
Dimensions |
|
Credit line | Salting Bequest |
Object history | From the Salting bequest. Historical significance: Probably moulded from an impression of a hardstone intalio engraving, possibly by Valerio Belli. The same image exists in Tassie's casts (no.8391) where it is listed as from a (?) rock crystal in a Florentine cabinet. One of a group of plaquettes of the same subject after Valerio Belli, this plaquette seems to combine elements from the Museum's glass paste version (A.17-1921), and the medal reverse listed in Kris (no.208) in the Münzkabinett, Vienna. It is suggested by Lippert that a version in Berlin is cast from an engraved gem which he ascribes to Belli. For other versions and discussion see Burns et al, 2000. |
Historical context | Shows how images known from engraved gems and hardstones persisted and often appeared again in the form of bronze plaquettes and small reliefs. |
Subject depicted | |
Summary | Plaquettes are small reliefs 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 or devotional purposes, such as decorations for caskets, ink-stands and paxes. Belli spent the most important part of his career in Rome, working for two successive popes. Almost all of his bronze plaquettes are cast from his engravings in rock crystal or hardstone. The bronze would have been cast from a plaster or brass mould made from an original hardstone engraving. |
Associated objects | |
Bibliographic references |
|
Collection | |
Accession number | A.480-1910 |
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 | November 21, 2006 |
Record URL |
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest