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Source Description
A classical temple defines the setting as the ancient Roman world and creates a "stage" for the scene of the Christ Child worshipped by Mary and the shepherds. In 16th-century stage design, classical buildings were thought the appropriate backdrop for plays about the lives of kings. Here, the setting may be meant to convey that Christ, even in his humble birth, is King of Heaven.Most of the surface is gilded, but the artist left the bronze uncovered in the areas of skin to evoke warmer flesh tones. Silver ornaments the brocade clothing and the temple, accentuating surface patterns. The inscription refers to Bonzagna by his nickname Parmense ("from Parma") and credits him with having "invented" the composition as well as having executed it.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
4260
label
Plaque with the Adoration of the Shepherds
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
4260
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Plaque with the Adoration of the Shepherds
description
A classical temple defines the setting as the ancient Roman world and creates a "stage" for the scene of the Christ Child worshipped by Mary and the shepherds. In 16th-century stage design, classical buildings were thought the appropriate backdrop for plays about the lives of kings. Here, the setting may be meant to convey that Christ, even in his humble birth, is King of Heaven.Most of the surface is gilded, but the artist left the bronze uncovered in the areas of skin to evoke warmer flesh tones. Silver ornaments the brocade clothing and the temple, accentuating surface patterns. The inscription refers to Bonzagna by his nickname Parmense ("from Parma") and credits him with having "invented" the composition as well as having executed it.
provenance
Henry Walters, Baltimore [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
1561 (Renaissance)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
plaques
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
20
height
15
depth
0.8
dimensionsRaw
H: 7 7/8 × W: 5 7/8 × D: 5/16 in. (20 × 15 × 0.8 cm)
Source extras
inscriptions
. PARMA . INVENT .
med
partially gilded and silvered bronze
creator_ids
8148
collection_ids
REN
exhibition_ids
none
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
012af13aaccab393
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
17c6682408547738
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no