{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O106667"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O106667/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE5081/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE5081/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AE5081","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O106667/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O106667","accessionNumber":"A.120-1910","objectType":"Statuette","titles":[{"title":"Orpheus confronted by Cerberus","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This bronze statuette, representing the story of Orpheus, is made by the workshop of Francesoco Fanelli, in the 17th century.\r\n\r\nAccording to Roman mythology Orpheus, the legendary poet famous for his lyre playing, persuaded Pluto to allow him to bring his dead wife back from the underworld on condition that he did not look back until they had returned. Finally, he glanced back and she disappeared for ever. The three-headed dog, Cerberus, guards the entrance to the underworld.\r\n\r\nFranceso Fanelli (1577- ca. 1641) was first documented in Genoa in 1608, where, until about 1631, he produced religious works in marble, silver, ivory and bronze. By 1635, he was working at the English court. Although he described himself 'sculptor to the King of Great Britain', it is unclear whether this title was officially conferred. The V&A owns versions of several small bronzes by 'ffrancisco the one-eyed Italian' listed in an inventory of Whitehall Palace in 1639. George Vertue stated that Fanelli 'lv'd and dyd in England'; he is last documented in 1641 and believed to have died soon after.","physicalDescription":"Bronze statuette of Orpheus confronted by Cerberus. Orpheus, leaning forward, his right foot on a rock, playing on a lyre; Cerberus standing in front of him, guarding the descent into Hades.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Fanelli, Francesco","id":"A8376"},"association":{"text":"sculptor","id":"AAT25181"},"note":"workshop of"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"bronze","id":"AAT10957"}],"techniques":[{"text":"casting","id":"AAT53104"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Bronze","categories":[{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2006AE5081"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"001","id":"THES395433"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Statuette","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"England","id":"x28826"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1625-1650","earliest":"1620-01-01","latest":"1650-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"Salting Bequest","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Width","value":"10","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"6.5","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Height","value":"10","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Dimensions were taken by SCP on 27.10.14 for <b>Bronze Zoo: A Sculptural Menagerie </b>","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"From the Salting bequest.","historicalContext":"According to Roman mythology Orpheus, the legendary poet famous for his lyre playing, persuaded Pluto to allow him to bring his dead wife back from the underworld on condition that he did not look back until they had returned. Finally, he glanced back and she disappeared for ever. The three-headed dog, Cerberus, guards the entrance to the underworld.","briefDescription":"Statuette, Orpheus confronted by Cerberus, bronze, probably workshop of Francesco Fanelli (active 1609-d.1665), Anglo-Italian, ca. 1625-1650","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"&lt;i&gt;List of Works of Art  Acquired by the Victoria  and Albert Museum  (Department of  Architecture and  Sculpture): Salting Bequest (A. 70  to A. 1029-1910) /  Murray Bequest (A.  1030 to A. 1096-1910)'&lt;/i&gt;,  London 1916, p. 9."}],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Orpheus","id":"N98"},{"text":"Cerberus","id":"N284"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"lyres","id":"AAT42114"}],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[],"partNumbers":["A.120-1910"],"accessionNumberNum":"120","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1910,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-11-13","recordCreationDate":"2004-10-21","availableToBook":true}}