Antico: The Golden Age of Renaissance Bronzes
May 1, 2012, through July 29, 2012
Antico in Relief
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Pier Jacopo Alari de Bonacolsi, called Antico (c. 1460–1528),Gonzaga Urn, c. 1487,
finial at top missing; foot probably a modern
replacement, bronze,
Galleria Estense, Modena |
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Pier Jacopo Alari de Bonacolsi (c. 1455–1528) was an expert goldsmith, bronze sculptor, and medalist. He was known by his nickname, Antico (the antique one), for his profound understanding of classical art, which he gained as a restorer of monumental ancient marble statues. As court sculptor to the Gonzagas, the ruling family of Mantua, Antico created bronze statuettes — often embellished with gold and silver — that were reductions of famous Roman antiquities, as well as life-size bronze busts in the classical style.
Antico's Gonzaga patrons were avid collectors of small-scale antiquities such as cameos, carved hard-stone vessels, and ancient coins. Antico's beautiful bronze reliefs, exhibited in this gallery, were inspired by the graceful refinement of these classical works. Antico creatively adapted ancient forms to modern purposes. He used Roman coins as sources for his sensitive portrait medals. His roundels of the labors of Hercules seem like dramatically outsized versions of the reverses of ancient coins. The Gonzaga Urn is a brilliant artistic summation of Antico's knowledge of classical relief studied in large-scale marbles, small coins, gems, and functional objects.
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