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Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Sculpture, Room 111, The Gilbert Bayes Gallery

Saint Sebastian

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

This plaquette depcits Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows. It 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.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSaint Sebastian (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Brief description
Plaquette, bronze, St Sebastian, by Moderno, North Italy, late 15th to early 16th century
Physical description
The Saint stands pierced by three arrows, naked except for a loincloth, with hands bound behind his back. To the left is part of a building. In front of it stands an altar on which is a statue of Venus. To the right is part of the same building, ruinous at the top, in front of it another altar on which is a statue of Mars in armour.
Dimensions
  • Height: 7.7cm
  • Width: 5.6cm
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This plaquette depcits Saint Sebastian pierced by arrows. It 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.
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. 68
  • Maclagan, Eric. Catalogue of Italian Plaquettes . London: Victoria and Albert Museum, 1924, p. 32
  • Pope-Hennessy, John. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection. Reliefs - Plaquettes - Statuettes - Utensils and Mortars . London: 1965, p. 48, no 154
Collection
Accession number
A.431-1910

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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