Grotesque Figure with Plant Motifs

Object belonging

One's own

Category

Wood sculpture

City

Rome

Location

Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia

Specific location

Store

Inventory

PV 04008

Material and technique

Sculpted and carved chestnut wood, paint

Author

Roman School

Dating

Mid-15th century

Dimensions

50.9 x 15.5 x 22 cm.

Origin

Alfredo Ferrando (1921)

Image copyright

SSPSAE e per il Polo Museale della città di Roma

Short description

This bust, depicting a man amongst plant-like motifs, is part of a group similar in size, make and setting (they are beam sculptures for a wooden roof), but of different subjects (PV 4007, 4009, 4010), which came, according to Hermanin (1948) from demolished Roman medieval houses and can be dated to the 14th century. Santangelo (1954) believed they were minor works and dated them, instead, to the mid-15th century. The group was bought in 1922 from Alfredo Ferrando. Scientific analysis carried out in 2009 by IVALSA-CNR in Florence identified the wood used as chestnut (castanea sativa mill.), which was used in the majority of medieval houses between Rome and Naples. For a study of the various typologies of wooden ceiling sculptures, see Soffitti lignei: convegno internazionale di studi (Pavia 2001), ed. L. Giordano, Pisa 2005.

Bibliography

Bollettino d'arte, n.s. II (1922-23), p. 189; F. Hermanin, Il Palazzo di Venezia, Rome 1948, p. 266; A. Santangelo (ed.), Museo di Palazzo Venezia. Catalogo delle sculture, Rome 1954, p. 60.