Gold, Silver, and Bronze : Metal Sculpture of the Roman Baroque

**An in-depth look at the exquisite metal sculpture of the Roman baroque**Roman baroque sculpture is usually thought of in terms of large-scale statues in marble and bronze, tombs, or portrait busts. Smaller bronze statuettes are often overlooked, and the extensive production of sculptural silver—much of which is now lost but can be studied from drawings—is frequently omitted from the histories of art. In this book, Jennifer Montagu enriches our understanding of the sculpture of the period by investigating the bronzes that adorn the great tabernacles of Roman churches; gilded silver, both secular and ecclesiastical; elaborately embossed display dishes; and the production of medals. Concentrating on selected pieces by such master sculptors as Bernini and leading metal-workers such as Giovanni Giardini, Montagu examines the often tortuous relationship between patrons and artists and elucidates the relationship between those who provided the drawings or models and the craftsmen who executed the finished sculptures.

An in-depth look at the exquisite metal sculpture of theRoman baroque Roman baroque sculpture is usually thoughtof in terms of large-scale statues in marble and bronze, tombs, orportrait busts. Smaller bronze statuettes are often overlooked, andthe extensive production of sculptural silver-much of which is nowlost but can be studied from drawings-is frequently omitted fromthe histories of art. In this book, Jennifer Montagu enriches ourunderstanding of the sculpture of the period by investigating thebronzes that adorn the great tabernacles of Roman churches; gildedsilver, both secular and ecclesiastical; elaborately embosseddisplay dishes; and the production of medals. Concentrating onselected pieces by such master sculptors as Bernini and leadingmetal-workers such as Giovanni Giardini, Montagu examines the oftentortuous relationship between patrons and artists and elucidatesthe relationship between those who provided the drawings or modelsand the craftsmen who executed the finished sculptures.

An in-depth look at the exquisite metal sculpture of the Roman baroque Roman baroque sculpture is usually thought of in terms of large-scale statues in marble and bronze, tombs, or portrait busts. Smaller bronze statuettes are often overlooked, and the extensive production of sculptural silver—much of which is now lost but can be studied from drawings—is frequently omitted from the histories of art. In this book, Jennifer Montagu enriches our understanding of the sculpture of the period by investigating the bronzes that adorn the great tabernacles of Roman churches; gilded silver, both secular and ecclesiastical; elaborately embossed display dishes; and the production of medals. Concentrating on selected pieces by such master sculptors as Bernini and leading metal-workers such as Giovanni Giardini, Montagu examines the often tortuous relationship between patrons and artists and elucidates the relationship between those who provided the drawings or models and the craftsmen who executed the finished sculptures. CONTENTS Money and Measurements Abbreviations List of Illustrations Preface 1 Introduction 2 Roman Bronzes around 1600 3 Adoration of the Host. Tabernacles of the Baroque 4 The Medal. Some Drawings for the Hamerani 5 Silver Tribute from a Prince to a Grand Duke. The 'Piatti di San Giovanni' 6 Giardini and Giardoni. Silversmiths and Founders of the Eighteenth Century 7 From Rome to Lisbon. The Patronage of John V Colour Plates APPENDICES Notes Bibliography Index