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Books and Plaquettes
Several bronze plaquettes produced in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries appear to be inspired by illustrations found in books. The titillating subject of a satyr uncovering a sleeping nymph, reminiscent of Greek mythology, was popularized by an illustration to the allegorical romance Hypnerotomachia Poliphili (The Dream of Poliphilus), the story of a man dreaming of his search for his beloved. Often considered the most beautiful book of the Renaissance, it is famed for the clarity of its typography and for its refined woodcut illustrations of the people and places Poliphilus encountered in his dreams. The motif of the nymph and satyr frequently appeared on plaquettes such as those exhibited here. Produced in multiple examples and easy to transport, plaquettes spread their influence beyond their centers of production. In very rare instances, they even served as models for prints: the large woodcut by the German court artist Lucas Cranach expanded the design of a late fifteenth-century plaquette by the Italian bronzecaster known only by his initials, Master Io. F. F. |