Crucifixion thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Crucifixion

Statue Crucifixion
early 18th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Francesco Bertos is best known for his allegorical groups in marble and bronze. Only rarely, it seems did he attempt religious subjects. This is his only known representation of the Crucifixion. This group seems more likely to have been produced for a private patron than for a church.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleCrucifixion
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Statuette, bronze, Italian, 18th cent, Francesco Bertos
Physical description
Group, bronze. The figure of Christ on the cross, flanked by the weeping figures of the Magdalene (right) and an angel (left) holding a chalice to collect the blood from Christ's wound. Blood is shown dripping from the wounds and onto the cross. The front of the Magdalene's hair is shown in relief against the cross. The snake on which the angel treads has an unidentified object in its mouth and there is a skull and cross-bones and a vase, together with plant decoration on the mound which supports the cross and figures. The flanking figures are case in very high relief with the back cut away. The patina is mid-brown with some coppery areas.
Dimensions
  • Height: 77.2cm
  • Width: 43cm
Dimensions from Object Card.
Gallery label
THE CRUCIFIXION Italian (Venice); 1700-33 Bronze By Francesco Bertos (active 1693-1733) Francesco Bertos is best known for his allegorical groups in marble and bronze (a typical example is the bay nearby). Only rarely, it seems, did he attempt religious subjects, as in four bronze reliefs with biblical subjects (three at Glynde place Sussex and one in the Art Institute of Chicago). This is his only known representation of the Crucifixion. The figure of Christ is loosely based on the Christo morto type of Giambologna, but as usual with Bertos, the iconography of the rest of the group is highly idiosyncratic. Although we know that Bertos was dealing with the Basilica of Saint Anthony at Padua in 1733, this group seems more likely to have been produced for a private patron than for a church. (1993 - 2011)
Object history
Purchased from Signor Rodolfo Conti, via Beatrice Cenci, 7A, 00186, Rome, Italy.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Francesco Bertos is best known for his allegorical groups in marble and bronze. Only rarely, it seems did he attempt religious subjects. This is his only known representation of the Crucifixion. This group seems more likely to have been produced for a private patron than for a church.
Bibliographic references
  • Radcliffe, A.F. The Treaure Houses of Britain, Exhibition Catalogue, National Gallery of Art, Washington, (New Haven and London), 1985.
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 1964, p. 662-664.
  • Sartori, Antonio. Documenti per la Storia dell' Arte a Padova, Vicenza, 1976, p. 606b.
  • Viancini, E. 'Per Francesco Bentoni. Saggi e Memorie di Storia, dell; Arte, 19, 1994, p. 143-59.
Collection
Accession number
A.9-1971

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

Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest