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Forge of Vulcan

Maker

(artist)
1527-1585

Title

Forge of Vulcan

Medium

black chalk, pen and brown ink, brown wash on laid paper, with grey ink framing lines, laid down

Dimensions

Height: 30.8 cm
Width: 44.7 cm

Accession Number

D.1952.RW.2479

Mode of Acquisition

Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952

Credit

The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)

Copyright

Work in the public domain

Location

Not currently on display

Keywords

Label Text

In the 'Metamorphoses', Ovid describes Vulcan's skill in forging metals. Incensed at finding his wife, Venus, 'close bound together' with the god Mars, Vulcan forges a net of finely worked bronze chains in which he traps the pair and displays them to the ridicule of the gods. Cambiaso's drawing shows Vulcan and his assistants at work in the forge, whilst through the open door to the right, we are given a glimpse of the illicit love-making of Venus and Mars. Vulcan's mastery of the element of fire is central to his identity as a god; fire here becomes an image of god-like creativity.

Provenance

Bonfiglioli family, Bologna; purchased from them by Zaccaria Sagredo, Venice (1653-1729), by 1728; purchased from his heirs by John Udney, British Consul in Venice (1727-1800), 1763; John Winston Spencer-Churchill, 7th Duke of Marlborough (1822-1883); his estate sale (referred to as the 'Sunderland Collection'), Christie's (London), 15 June 1883, among lots 117-124; Sotheby's (London), 29 July 1931, lot 2; purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), L.2228b; Witt Bequest 1952

Literature

Manning, Bertina Suida and William Suida, Luca Cambiaso, la vita e le opere, MIlan, 1958
p. 181
fig. 78 in Tavola L

Inscriptions

Watermark: Watermark: none.

Inscription: Verso (backing sheet): lower right, graphite, Witt number: "2479"; lower left corner, graphite, Witt's hand: "8".

Collector's mark: Verso (backing sheet): lower right corner, stamped twice in black: Sir Robert Witt (L.2228b).

Label: Formerly on the verso, now removed but recorded in file: "Bought Sunderland collection at Christies June 15 1883".

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