Saturday, December 15, 2018

Renaissance Bronze

attributed to Pastorino dei Pastorini
Bust of Ottavio Farnese, Duke of Parma and Piacenza
ca. 1547-52
bronze
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Agostino Zoppo
Allegorical Figure of Sibyl or Virtue
ca. 1550
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Anonymous Italian sculptor working in Rome
Reclining Female Figure (imitating Michelangelo)
ca. 1550
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Sonnet 99

When far spent night persuades each mortal eye,
To whom nor art nor nature granteth light,
To lay his then mark-wanting shafts of sight,
Closed with their quivers, in sleep's armoury;
With windows ope then most my mind doth lie,
Viewing the shape of darkness and delight,
Takes in that sad hue, which with the inward night
Of his mazed powers keeps perfect harmony.
But when birds charm, and that sweet air, which is
Morn's messenger, with rose-enameled skies,
Calls each wight to salute the flower of bliss:
In tomb of lids then buried are mine eyes,
Forced by their lord, who is ashamed to find
Such light in sense, with such a darkened mind.

after Andrea Mantegna
Standing Boy
ca. 1450-75
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Anonymous Italian sculptor
Bust of Marcus Aurelius
ca. 1575-1600
bronze
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

after Benvenuto Cellini
Jupiter
ca. 1580
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Anonymous Italian sculptor working in Florence
Portrait Medal of Giuliano de' Medici
1513
bronze
Harvard Art Museums

Anonymous Italian sculptor working in Florence
Hercules and Antaeus
ca. 1500-1525
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Severo da Ravenna
The Spinario
ca. 1496
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Sonnet 8

Love, born in Greece, of late fled from his native place,
Forced by a tedious proof that Turkish hardened heart
Is no fit mark to pierce with his fine pointed dart;
And, pleased with our soft peace, stayed here his flying race.
But, finding these north climes too coldly him embrace,
Not used to frozen clips, he strave to find some part
Where with most ease and warmth he might employ his art.
At length he perched himself in Stella's joyful face,
Whose fair skin, beamy eyes, like morning sun on snow,
Deceived the quaking boy, who thought, from so pure light
Effects of lively heat must needs in nature grow:
But she, most fair, most cold, made him thence take his flight
To my close heart; where, while some firebrands he did lay,
He burnt unwares his wings, and cannot fly away.

workshop of Severo da Ravenna
Mercury
ca. 1540
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

workshop of Severo da Ravenna
Atlantid
ca. 1510
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Severo da Ravenna
Neptune
ca. 1500
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

attributed to Severo da Ravenna
Rearing Horse
ca. 1500
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Severo da Ravenna
Cleopatra
ca. 1500-1525
bronze statuette
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

Sonnet 14

Alas, have I not pain enough, my friend,
Upon whose breast a fiercer gripe doth tire
Than did on him who first stole down the fire,
While Love on me doth all his quiver spend,
But with your rhubarb words you must contend
To grieve me worse, in saying that desire
Doth plunge my well-formed soul even in the mire
Of sinful thoughts, which do in ruin end?
If that be sin, which doth the manners frame,
Well stayed with truth in word, and faith of deed,
Ready of wit, and fearing nought but shame:
If that be sin which in fixed hearts doth breed
A loathing of all loose unchastity,
Then love is sin, and let me sinful be.

– the sonnets are from Astrophil and Stella by Sir Philip Sidney (1554-1586)