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Oil lamp in the form of a grotesque animal

17th century
Not on view
Bernard de Montfaucon illustrated an example of such an oil lamp as antique.[1] Many of the type exist but have not been studied, probably because they are not Italian. The sinuous creature somewhat calls to mind the salamander-like shapes that were a staple of French bronziers, but there is none resembling it by Barthélemy Prieur, who might otherwise be a candidate.[2] The creature is also formally reminiscent of the fantastic hybrid grotesques by the Amsterdam bronze master Arent van Bolten (fig. 187a).[3]
-JDD

Footnotes
(For key to shortened references see bibliography in Allen, Italian Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. NY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2022.)


1. Montfaucon 1719–22, vol. 5, pl. 144, no. 2.
2. Regina Seelig-Teuwen in Bresc-Bautier et al. 2008, pp. 102–47.
3. See Scholten and Verber 2005, pp. 130–33, cats. 40, 41.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Oil lamp in the form of a grotesque animal
  • Maker: School of Andrea Briosco, called Riccio (Italian, Trent 1470–1532 Padua)
  • Date: 17th century
  • Culture: Possibly France or the Netherlands
  • Medium: Bronze
  • Dimensions: Overall: 2 × 1 3/4 × 5 3/4 in. (5.1 × 4.5 × 14.6 cm)
  • Classification: Sculpture-Bronze
  • Credit Line: Gift of Irwin Untermyer, 1964
  • Object Number: 64.101.1422
  • Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts

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Satyr Riding a Goat, Andrea Briosco, called Riccio Italian, Bronze; dark brown patina; yellow and green marble base, Italian, Padua
Satyr Riding a Goat
Andrea Briosco, called Riccio
19th–20th century
Satyr Holding a Vessel, Andrea Briosco, called Riccio Italian, Brass, probably Flemish
Satyr Holding a Vessel
Andrea Briosco, called Riccio
early 17th century
Entombment, Andrea Briosco, called Riccio Italian, Copper alloy with a warm, reddish brown patina.
Entombment
Andrea Briosco, called Riccio
model ca. 1516–21 (last cast)
Kneeling Satyr, Andrea Briosco, called Riccio Italian, Bronze, possibly Italian, Padua
Kneeling Satyr
Andrea Briosco, called Riccio
16th century
The Triumph of a Hero, Andrea Briosco, called Riccio Italian, Bronze, Italian, Padua
The Triumph of a Hero
Andrea Briosco, called Riccio
probably early 16th century

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