Ram Head

Object belonging

One's own

Category

Bronze sculpture

City

Rome

Location

Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia

Specific location

Room 16

Inventory

PV 09258

Material and technique

Bronze, black lacquer

Author

Paduan School

Dating

15th-16th century (?)

Dimensions

10.5 x 10 x 11.5 cm.

Origin

Barsanti Collection (1934)

Image copyright

SSPSAE e per il Polo Museale della città di Roma

Short description

A protome is a decorative element of Roman architecture that was frequently used to cover the edges of the upper part of altars, tombs and large marble chandeliers. A similar use can be seen in Riccio’s Paschal candelabrum in the Basilica del Santo in Padua (1507-1517). It seems very unlikely, and cannot in any case be verified, that this ram’s head was made in Riccio’s studio. The four holes suggest that the bronze was originally nailed to another object.

Pietro Cannata

Bibliography

L. Pollak, Raccolta Alfredo Barsanti (Trecento-Settecento), catalogue of the collection, Bergamo 1922, no. 31 p. 46; A. Santangelo, Museo di Palazzo Venezia. Catalogo delle sculture, Rome 1954, p. 35.