Not currently on display at the V&A

Hercules and the Nemean lion

Plaquette
late 15th century to early 16th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Plaquette depicts Hercules wrestling with the Nemean lion and is made by Moderno.
Moderno (Galeazzo Mondella) (1467-1528) is the pseudonym of this goldsmith and medallist active in North Italy and later in Rome. He signed certain pieces of his work with OPUS MODERNI (opus is the Latin term for 'work' - which then means 'work of the modern'). The modern here is referring to the Ancient World, in contrary to the Naturalism of the Gothic. His earliest works may date around 1485-1490, and his earliest dated work is 1490. Moderno specialised in small bronze plaquettes exploring religious or antique themes, and catered for a clientele of learned humanists.

The Nemean lion was a monster in Greek mythology that lived at Nemea and terrorised the city. It was killed by Heracles as the first of his 12 labours. It had a golden fur and thus couldn't be killed conventionally but just by strangling it.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleHercules and the Nemean lion (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, Hercules and the Nemean Lion, by Moderno, North Italy, late 15th - early 16th century
Physical description
Hercules, naked, stands upright facing to left, wrestling with the lion, who is lifted off the ground. To the right a dry tree, to which the bow and quiver are hung. The club leaning beside it.
Dimensions
  • Height: 7.8cm
  • Width: 5.8cm
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Plaquette depicts Hercules wrestling with the Nemean lion and is made by Moderno.
Moderno (Galeazzo Mondella) (1467-1528) is the pseudonym of this goldsmith and medallist active in North Italy and later in Rome. He signed certain pieces of his work with OPUS MODERNI (opus is the Latin term for 'work' - which then means 'work of the modern'). The modern here is referring to the Ancient World, in contrary to the Naturalism of the Gothic. His earliest works may date around 1485-1490, and his earliest dated work is 1490. Moderno specialised in small bronze plaquettes exploring religious or antique themes, and catered for a clientele of learned humanists.

The Nemean lion was a monster in Greek mythology that lived at Nemea and terrorised the city. It was killed by Heracles as the first of his 12 labours. It had a golden fur and thus couldn't be killed conventionally but just by strangling it.
Bibliographic references
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 69
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 35
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection. Reliefs - Plaquettes - Statuettes - Utensils and Mortars . London: 1965, p. 50, no 161, fig 170
Collection
Accession number
A.438-1910

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
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