{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O96690"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O96690/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HJ6043/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2015HJ6043/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2015HJ6043","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2015HJ6044","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2017JV0549","copyright":"©Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O96690/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O96690","accessionNumber":"A.65-1938","objectType":"Relief","titles":[{"title":"A Blessed Soul","type":"generic title"}],"summaryDescription":"This wax is one of a pair, which may have been part of a larger group. Similar objects in the collection (A.19, 20, 21, 22-1982) also represent souls in Paradise, Purgatory and Hell. These highly realistic and dramatic wax tableaux served as ‘memento mori’, intended to inspire thoughts on mortality. Wax modelling had acquired a certain status by the sixteenth century, as it lends itself to the type of intricate workmanship on a small scale which can be seen in this object, and enhanced by the use of colour and texture to mimic flesh.\n\nThis wax is in the style of Gaetano Giulio Zumbo or Zummo (1656-1701), who was known for his expressiveness, as seen in this evocative image. Born in Syracuse to an impoverished aristocratic Sicilian family, the early life and training of Zumbo is shrouded in mystery. He spent time in Rome, Naples and Bologna, where his presence among circles of anatomists is recorded. In Bologna, he is thought to have been the first to propose using coloured wax for anatomical teaching models. From 1691 to 1695, he served Grand Duke Cosimo III and created his most famous teatrini (‘little theatres’), many of which were highly realistic and dramatic wax tableaux that served as ‘memento mori’ and intended to inspire thoughts on mortality (such as A.3-1966). \n\n","physicalDescription":"This relief in coloured wax, which is set on a red glass ground with sloping side pieces of mirror glass,  shows the head and shoulders of a youthful male figure with long brown hair. Across the foreground runs a strip of cloud made from quartz, and above is an almost obliterated oval painting of a Saint.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Zumbo, Gaetano Giulio","id":"A12166"},"association":{"text":"makers","id":"AAT251917"},"note":"style of"}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"Wax","id":"AAT14585"}],"techniques":[],"materialsAndTechniques":"Wax, on glass","categories":[{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"},{"text":"Sculpture","id":"THES48896"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"SCP","id":"THES48600"},"images":["2015HJ6043","2015HJ6044","2017JV0549"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"7","id":"THES263054"},"free":"","case":"CA18","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Relief a blessed soul","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1700","earliest":"1695-01-01","latest":"1704-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[{"object":{"text":"A.66-1930","id":"O96541"},"association":""}],"creditLine":"Bequeathed by Lady de Gex","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"113","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame","note":""},{"dimension":"Width","value":"110","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame","note":""},{"dimension":"Depth","value":"35","unit":"mm","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"frame","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"Measured by Conservation, 2012","marksAndInscriptions":[{"content":"'Wax. Illustrating 'Purgatory' by 'Zumbo' one of the same on a large scale is in the Pitti Palace, Florence. Exhib. at Italn. Art Exhibn. From Propert Coll.'","inscriber":{"name":{"text":"","id":""},"association":{"text":"","id":""}},"date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"description":"","interpretation":"","language":"","medium":"","method":"","position":"","script":"","translation":"","transliteration":"","type":"","note":"On a label on the back of the frame."}],"objectHistory":"Bequeathed by Lady de Gex.","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Wax relief in the style of Gaetano Giulio Zumbo, Italy, ca. 1670-1700.","bibliographicReferences":[{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Theuerkauff, C. <u>Elfenbein: Sammlung Rainer Winkler.</u> Munich, 1984, p.80"},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Malke, 'Vier Letzten Dinge' <u>Zeitschrift des Deutschen Vereins für Kunstwissenschaft.</u> XXX, 1/4, 1976, pp.57ff, fig. 18."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"cf. Finaldi, G. 'Giulio de Grazia: Medallist to the Spanish Viceroys of Naples' <u>The Medal.</u> no. 24, Spring 1994, pp.3-9, figs. 2 and 5."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Pope-Hennessy, John. <u>Catalogue of Italian Sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum.</u> London: Her Majesty's Stationary Office, 1964. pp.634."},{"reference":{"text":"","id":""},"details":"","free":"Panzanelli, Roberta (ed.), <u> Ephemeral Bodies: Wax Sculpture and the Human Figure, </u>, Los Angeles: Getty Research Institute, 2008, 5, pp. 10-11."}],"production":"In the style of Gaetano Giulio Zumbo (1656-1701)","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[{"text":"men","id":"AAT25928"},{"text":"saints","id":"AAT150555"},{"text":"clouds","id":"x30091"}],"contentConcepts":[{"text":"Paradise","id":"AAT55986"},{"text":"Death","id":"x30761"}],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Waxes showing the fate of the soul\r\n\r\nThese dramatic and highly realistic wax sculptures depict the possible fate of the immortal soul. According to Catholic doctrine, the soul is judged at death and sent to Heaven for eternal reward, Hell for eternal punishment, or Purgatory for a period of purifying repentance. These sculptures were probably for private devotion, a potent reminder of the terrifying fate of damnation and that time in Purgatory could be lessened through the prayers of the living.\r\n\r\n\r\nA Soul at Death\r\nAbout 1620–30\r\n\r\nItaly (Naples)\r\n\r\nPossibly by Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino\r\n\r\nColoured wax on painted glass\r\n\r\nInscribed on the back of the frame in Latin ‘Death to the bad, life to the good’\r\n\r\nGiven by the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine\r\n\r\nMuseum no. A.19-1982\r\n\r\n\r\nA Damned Soul\r\nAbout 1700\r\n\r\nItaly (Naples)\r\n\r\nIn the style of Gaetano Giulio Zumbo\r\n\r\nColoured wax on glass and painted copper, with mirror glass, quartz and mica\r\n\r\nBequeathed by Lady de Gex\r\n\r\nMuseum no. A.66-1938\r\n\r\n\r\nA Blessed Soul\r\nAbout 1700\r\n\r\nItaly (Naples)\r\n\r\nIn the style of Gaetano Giulio Zumbo\r\n\r\nColoured wax on glass and painted copper, with mirror glass, quartz and mica\r\n\r\nBequeathed by Lady de Gex\r\n\r\nMuseum no. A.65-1938\r\n\r\n\r\nA Soul in Purgatory\r\nAbout 1620–30\r\n\r\nItaly (Naples)\r\n\r\nPossibly by Giovanni Bernardo Azzolino\r\n\r\nColoured wax on painted glass\r\n\r\nInscribed on the back of the frame in Latin ‘Have mercy upon me'\r\n\r\nGiven by the Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine\r\n\r\nMuseum no. A.20-1982","date":{"text":"09.12.2015","earliest":"2015-12-09","latest":"2015-12-09"}}],"partNumbers":["A.65-1938"],"accessionNumberNum":"65","accessionNumberPrefix":"A","accessionYear":1938,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":["2019LR1243","2019LR5716","2019LT4860","2019LW7529","2019LV8470"],"recordModificationDate":"2025-04-07","recordCreationDate":"2004-03-12","availableToBook":false}}