Ceres
Ceres holds a sheaf of wheat in her outstretched arms and wears a helmet decorated with leaves. The bronze statuette entered The Met with its pair, Hercules Carrying His Club (cat. 68B). The figures have opposing contrappostos—she sways gently to her proper right, he to his left—and likely topped andirons, as they have long iron rods plugged into their bases. With their rough surfaces and minimal detail, both are probably serial casts of models designed by Nicolò Roccatagliata.[1] Another Ceres, poorly executed but with more distinct facial features and a slightly different posture, can be found in the Szépművészeti Múzeum, Budapest, where it is assigned to Roccatagliata.[2] A better version in the Galleria Estense, Modena, has been attributed to Girolamo Campagna.[3]
Footnotes
(For key to shortened references see bibliography in Allen, Italian Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. NY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2022.)
1. See Planiscig 1921, p. 620, figs. 694, 696–98.
2. Inv. 5313; see Balogh 1975, vol. 1, p. 177, no. 236, with other examples.
3. See Salvini 1948; P. Rossi 1968, p. 47.
Footnotes
(For key to shortened references see bibliography in Allen, Italian Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. NY: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2022.)
1. See Planiscig 1921, p. 620, figs. 694, 696–98.
2. Inv. 5313; see Balogh 1975, vol. 1, p. 177, no. 236, with other examples.
3. See Salvini 1948; P. Rossi 1968, p. 47.
Artwork Details
- Title: Ceres
- Artist: Niccolò Roccatagliata (Italian, born Genoa, active 1593–1636)
- Date: possibly 17th century or later cast
- Culture: Italian, Venice
- Medium: Bronze
- Dimensions: Overall: 14 5/8 × 3 3/4 × 2 5/8 in. (37.1 × 9.5 × 6.7 cm)
- Classification: Sculpture-Bronze
- Credit Line: Gift of Ogden Mills, 1927
- Object Number: 27.36.6
- Curatorial Department: European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Niccolò Roccatagliata
possibly 17th century or later cast
Niccolò Roccatagliata
16th century
Niccolò Roccatagliata
16th century
Niccolò Roccatagliata
possibly 17th century or later cast
Niccolò Roccatagliata
late 16th or early 17th century
Related Content
Publications
Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.
Free to download
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.