Bell
- Object belonging
- One's own
- Category
- Bronze sculpture
- City
- Rome
- Location
- Museo Nazionale del Palazzo di Venezia
- Specific location
- Room 17
- Inventory
- PV 10859
- Material and technique
- Bronze, patina, lacquer
- Author
- Jean Van den Eynde called Johannes a Fine (1515- c.1556)
- Dating
- 1549
- Dimensions
- 12; 9.5 cm.
- Origin
- Auriti Collection (1963)
- Image copyright
- SSPSAE e per il Polo Museale della città di Roma
Short description
The two inscriptions on this bell feature on many of the artist’s bronzes. Such sought-after bells rarely ended up in a liturgical setting, but the subject depicted on them is not indicative of their original destination. The refined decoration of Jean van den Eynde, like those of other Flemish founders, draws on sacred and profane imagery, depicting angels, mythological figures, garlands of flowers and ribbons, ram heads and demonic creatures, and wreaths with the profile of one or several heroic figures. Van den Eynde, known as Johannes a Fine, consistently used the same imagery throughout his oeuvre. The handles of his bells, though, differ widely; the majority were simply made, but some were added or altered at a later date, while others are missing altogether, replaced by cords or elaborate tassels, as in this example. Occasionally the handle comprised three putti, with their backs to each other around a small column.
Pietro Cannata
Bibliography
L. Planiscig, La Collezione Giacinto Auriti, Vienna 1931, no. 51; A. Santangelo, Museo di Palazzo Venezia. Catalogo delle sculture, Rome 1954, p. 49, pl. LXXII; P. Cannata, Rilievi e placchette dal XV al XVIII secolo, catalogo della mostra, Rome, 1982, no. 92, p. 81.