Tazza, c. 1587–1599
Unknown Netherlandish?expand_more
GIlded silverexpand_more
The James Ford Bell Family Foundation Fund, the M. R. Schweitzer Fund, and the Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fundexpand_more 75.54
On View in Gallery 350expand_more
This tazza is from a set of twelve made for display on a sideboard. The ornamental imagery was inspired by the Lives of the Caesars, a second century a.d. book in every Renaissance library that describes the lives of the first twelve Roman emperors. Each tazza featured a different emperor rising from the center, with events of his reign depicted around the inside of the bowl. The set was dismantled in the late 19th century, then incorrectly reassembled by a Parisian antiques dealer. As a result, the Institute's tazza combines Augustus's portrait with scenes from the life of Caligula. This example is sometimes called the Aldobrandini tazza after one of its early owners, Cardinal Ippolito Aldobrandini, who became Pope Clement VIII in 1592.
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Details
- Title
- Tazza
- Role
- Silversmith
- Accession Number
- 75.54
- Curator Approved
This record is from historic documentation and may not have been reviewed by a curator, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Our records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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