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Plaque, Minerva

WB.35     about 1560–70 • Painted enamel on copper • plaque

Minerva is the classical goddess of Wisdom.

Curator's Description

Painted Limoges enamel plaque; copper, oval; concave with a moulded rim; standing figure of an allegorical figure of wisdom, Minerva?, holding a mirror and stick with a snake; at her feet, another snake and an owl sitting upon two books and a quill pen; in background, a hamlet and outskirts of a town; painted in semi-opaque enamels over a white preparation with translucent enamels over coloured foils and grisaille with flesh tones; details produced by enlevage, painted on foils, white highlights or gilding; counter enamel translucent with liverish flux.

This object was collected and bequeathed to the British Museum by Ferdinand Anselm Rothschild.

Made In!

Limoges
Limoges

Maker

Pierre Courteys
Pierre Courtoys (?)

What is it?

plaque

Made Of

copper enamel gold

Techniques

enamelled painted gilded

Subjects

bird classical deity landscape reptile architecture Athena/Minerva

How big is it?

23.1 cm wide, 35 cm high, 2 cm deep, and it weighs 667g

Where is it?

London / The British Museum / Room 2A / Case 4b 2

Floor plan 2 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 6c 6d 6e 6f 6g 6h 7a 7b 7c 7d 7e 7f 7g 7h 7i 7j Entrance

Detailed Curatorial Notes

Provenance: None is recorded.

Bibliography

  • Charles Hercules Read, 'The Waddesdon Bequest: Catalogue of the Works of Art bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898', London, 1902, no. 35
  • O.M. Dalton, 'The Waddesdon Bequest', 2nd edn (rev), British Museum, London, 1927, no.35.

    • References

    1. Read 1902: Read, Charles Hercules, The Waddesdon Bequest. Catalogue of the Works of Art Bequeathed to the British Museum by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild, M.P., 1898, London, BMP, 1902
    2. Dalton 1927: Dalton, Ormonde Maddock, The Waddesdon Bequest : jewels, plate, and other works of art bequeathed by Baron Ferdinand Rothschild., London, BMP, 1927
    3. Scrase handlist: Scrase handlist

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