{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O157966"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O157966/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU1809/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2008BU1809/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2008BU1809","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2008BU1810","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London/ © the Rosalinde & Arthur Gilbert Collection, on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London ","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O157966/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O157966","accessionNumber":"LOAN:GILBERT.256-2008","objectType":"Brooch","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"This enamel brooch is associated with the circle of miniaturist Jean-Abraham Lissignol (1749-1819) of Geneva. In this mythological scene, the centaur Nessus ferries Deianira across a river and is slain by her husband Hercules when he attempts to kidnap her. \r\n\r\nThe practice of painting portrait miniatures in enamels developed out of the decorative work of goldsmiths and watchmakers in the French cities of Blois, Châteaudun and Paris. Portrait plaques had been made in the enamelling workshops of Limoges in central France during the 16th century, but in the 1630s, artist Jean Toutin adapted existing techniques to make the subtle colouring and delicate detail of enamel miniatures possible. Small objects like watches or snuffboxes were ideally suited to this technique and many were decorated with portraits and mythological or allegorical scenes. Artists throughout Europe continually refined their approaches to painting enamel portraits. While 17th century enamellers used a very fine stipple to create light and shade in their miniatures, artists in the 18th century began to use larger brushstrokes for a more fluid effect.\r\n\r\nSir Arthur Gilbert and his wife Rosalinde formed one of the world's great decorative art collections, including silver, mosaics, enamelled portrait miniatures and gold boxes.  Arthur Gilbert donated his extraordinary collection to Britain in 1996.","physicalDescription":"Oval gold brooch frame set with a miniature depiction of the attempted rape of Deianira, the wife of Hercules, by the centaur Nessus. Nessus is pictured carrying Deianira across a river while Hercules stands on the far bank.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"enamel","id":"AAT14910"},{"text":"copper","id":"AAT11020"},{"text":"gold","id":"AAT11021"}],"techniques":[{"text":"enamelling","id":"x37485"},{"text":"framing","id":"AAT240903"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Enamel on copper, gold brooch frame","categories":[{"text":"Enamels","id":"THES48876"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Myths & Legends","id":"THES49005"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2008BU1809","2008BU1810"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"011","id":"THES404893"},"free":"","case":"","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"miniature","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Geneva","id":"x32975"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1800","earliest":"1795-01-01","latest":"1804-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Collection on loan to the Victoria and Albert Museum, London","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"5.48","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"5.26","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"0.85","unit":"cm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Updated with measurements taken 29/07/08","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"Provenance: Sale, Christie's New York, lot 59, 27/04/1992.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Gold brooch set with miniature depiction of Nessus the Centaur carrying Deianeira, the wife of Hercules, circle of Jean-Abraham Lissignol, Geneva, 1800.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Coffin, Sarah and Bodo Hofstetter. <u>Portrait Miniatures in Enamel</u>. London: Philip Wilson Publishers Ltd. in association with the Gilbert Collection, 2000. 168 p., ill. Cat. no. 36, p. 83-84. ISBN 0856675334."}],"production":"circle of Jean-Abraham Lissignol, after Guido Reni","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Nessus","id":"N3586"},{"text":"Deianira","id":"N3585"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"mythology","id":"AAT55985"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":["Ovid's 'Metamorphoses'"],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"4. Nessus and Deianeira, about 1800\r\nMuseum no. Loan:Gilbert.256-2008","date":{"text":"2024","earliest":"2024-01-01","latest":"2024-12-31"}},{"text":"Nessus and Deianeira\r\nAbout 1800\r\n\r\nAs the centaur Nessus helped Deianeira cross a river,\r\nhe attempted to ravish her, but was slain by her\r\nhusband Hercules.\r\n\r\nGeneva, Switzerland;\r\ncircle of Jean-Abraham Lissignol (1749–1819),\r\nafter Guido Reni (1575–1642)\r\nEnamel on copper in gold frame;\r\noriginally to be fitted into a box top,\r\nlater mounted as a brooch\r\nMuseum no. Loan:Gilbert.256-2008","date":{"text":"2009","earliest":"2009-01-01","latest":"2009-12-31"}}],"partNumbers":["LOAN:GILBERT.256-2008"],"accessionNumberNum":"256","accessionNumberPrefix":"LOAN:GILBERT","accessionYear":2008,"otherNumbers":[{"type":{"text":"Arthur Gilbert Number","id":"THES50383"},"number":"MIN 46"},{"type":{"text":"The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House","id":"THES50384"},"number":"1996.812"},{"type":{"text":"The Gilbert Collection, Somerset House","id":"THES50384"},"number":"1996.791.1"},{"type":{"text":"Arthur Gilbert Number","id":"THES50383"},"number":"MIN 26"}],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2026-05-12","recordCreationDate":"2008-06-26","availableToBook":false}}