Mercury and Psyche
Sculptures
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Tomb of the Cardinal of Portugal
| Artist | |
|---|---|
| Date | after 1461 (original), 1907 (cast) |
| Object type | plaster cast |
| Medium, technique | plaster cast |
| Dimensions | 536 × 312 × 113.5 cm |
| Inventory number | Rg.202 |
| Collection | Sculptures |
| On view | Star Fortress (Komárom), Monumental Plaster Casts, Colleoni Hall |
James of Coimbra (1434—1459), also known as James of Portugal, was appointed as a cardinal in Rome but passed away at a young age on a visit to Florence. His funerary chapel was placed in the Church of San Minato al Monte, and the sculptor Antonio Rossellino was commissioned to make his tomb. Being of the type of Renaissance tombs that were sunk into a wall, it is in harmony with the architectural design of the chapel. The deceased cardinal’s figure is enveloped by angels, as well as the Virgin and Child. The symbolic motifs visible on the relief strip of the sarcophagus pedestal tell of the virtues of the deceased, his victory over temptations, and the immortality of the soul.
Comissioned by the museum in 1907, cast at the Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum in Berlin (today Bode Museum).
This record is subject to revision due to ongoing research.