Renaissance plaque with a bust of Hercules, circa 1520-30

Exquisite Renaissance iron relief plaque depicting a bust of Hercules in a grotesque ornamental composition.

The figure of Hercules appears in a central tondo, in a three-quarter pose, dressed as a soldier, with a beard and wearing a helmet decorated with a lion skin that identifies the mythological heroe. That said, we shouldn't exclude the possibility for this bust to be the portrait of the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. The tondo is flanked by two grotesque female figures of naked torso that are feeding a couple of fantastic swan-like creatures. This two imaginary birds are chained by the neck to the vegetal and fruit arabesque that completes the sides of the entire composition.

Taking into account its small dimensions, the design accuracy and the great looseness of this delicate plaquette are undoubtedly the result of a great mastery in the hard technique of iron chiselling. Originally, this outstanding ornamental element comes possibly from an important casket or a brasier perhaps.

Dim: 11 x 15 cm. Height including base: 18 cm