An allegory
Plaquette
ca. 1500 (made)
ca. 1500 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This plaquette depicting an allegorical scene is made by the Master IO.F.F., a plaquette maker working around 1500.
Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies 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 purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.
Whilst religious plaquettes had both public and private functions, and mounted religious plaquettes, known as paxes, were held up during mass for the kiss of peace, those with a secular subject matter were usually for private, personal use. They were used as pendants, desk ornaments, and applied to functional objects such as pounce-pots. They were also valued as fine miniature works of art. Plaquettes had a role in disseminating classical imagery and designs throughout Europe, in the same manner as the contemporary print. The subject matter was often a miniature composition, only rarely a single isolated figure.
Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies 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 purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings.
Whilst religious plaquettes had both public and private functions, and mounted religious plaquettes, known as paxes, were held up during mass for the kiss of peace, those with a secular subject matter were usually for private, personal use. They were used as pendants, desk ornaments, and applied to functional objects such as pounce-pots. They were also valued as fine miniature works of art. Plaquettes had a role in disseminating classical imagery and designs throughout Europe, in the same manner as the contemporary print. The subject matter was often a miniature composition, only rarely a single isolated figure.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | An allegory (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Bronze, parcel gilt |
Brief description | Plaquette, bronze gilt, an allegorical scene, by the Master IO.F.F., Italy, ca. 1500 |
Physical description | A woman seated on a dragon; behind her another woman holding a mirror hung on the cross-bar of a staff. Before her stand two man, the first naked, holding a palm branch and the second carrying a severed head on a crossed pole. To the left a statue of Diana with the bow on a pedestal before which crouches a lion. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This plaquette depicting an allegorical scene is made by the Master IO.F.F., a plaquette maker working around 1500. Plaquettes are small plaques or reliefs made of bronze, brass, lead or precious metals. They originated in the 1440ies 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 purposes. They also inspired designs in other media, from architecture to bookbindings. Whilst religious plaquettes had both public and private functions, and mounted religious plaquettes, known as paxes, were held up during mass for the kiss of peace, those with a secular subject matter were usually for private, personal use. They were used as pendants, desk ornaments, and applied to functional objects such as pounce-pots. They were also valued as fine miniature works of art. Plaquettes had a role in disseminating classical imagery and designs throughout Europe, in the same manner as the contemporary print. The subject matter was often a miniature composition, only rarely a single isolated figure. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | A.468-1910 |
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Record created | June 24, 2009 |
Record URL |
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