Plaster cast of Mother and Child
- Reference:GB 1694 PC/046
- Dates of Creation:Mid 19th century-early 20th century
- Name of Creator:
- Physical Description:1 item
Scope and Content
Roundel, surrounded by fruits. Original: Studio della Robbia, c1490. Glazed terracotta. Original currently in the collection of the National Gallery of Ancient Art in the Palazzo Barberini, Rome, Italy. Annotated "D Brucciani & Co London EC" and "325".
Administrative / Biographical History
Domenicho (Domenico) Brucciani (1815-1880) was born in Lucca, Italy and migrated to England in the first half of the nineteenth century. He established a business which produced casts of sculptural works from international collections. By 1837 he owned a showroom near Covent Garden and was selling works to the British Museum and the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum). By 1857 D. Brucciani & Co. were working for the British Museum, making moulds and casts of their classical sculptures, bronzes and other pieces, to be sold commercially. The company was successful during Brucciani's lifetime as it capitalised on the nineteenth century fashion to have plaster casts of sculptural works in the home. Following his death his business was purchased by another Italian, Joseph Caproni (1846 - 1900), who retained the name D. Brucciani & Co., and the business continued to manufacture casts, with customers including the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Museum of Classical Archaeology. However, as demand for plaster casts declined in the twentieth century, the business failed. Consequently, it was purchased by the V&A and operated as the Department for the Sale of Casts until 1951 when it was forced to closed due to financial losses.
Acquisition Information
Listed in 1964/5 inventory as located in the entrance halls passage ways of the Mackintosh Building (GSAA/GOV/7/5). Cast is listed for sale in 'Catalogue Casts for Schools' (GSAA/ISE/5/8), however no evidence this was the distributer (D. Brucciani & Co.) or issue it was bought from.
Note
Domenicho (Domenico) Brucciani (1815-1880) was born in Lucca, Italy and migrated to England in the first half of the nineteenth century. He established a business which produced casts of sculptural works from international collections. By 1837 he owned a showroom near Covent Garden and was selling works to the British Museum and the South Kensington Museum (now the Victoria and Albert Museum). By 1857 D. Brucciani & Co. were working for the British Museum, making moulds and casts of their classical sculptures, bronzes and other pieces, to be sold commercially. The company was successful during Brucciani's lifetime as it capitalised on the nineteenth century fashion to have plaster casts of sculptural works in the home. Following his death his business was purchased by another Italian, Joseph Caproni (1846 - 1900), who retained the name D. Brucciani & Co., and the business continued to manufacture casts, with customers including the Fitzwilliam Museum and the Museum of Classical Archaeology. However, as demand for plaster casts declined in the twentieth century, the business failed. Consequently, it was purchased by the V&A and operated as the Department for the Sale of Casts until 1951 when it was forced to closed due to financial losses.
Physical Characteristics and/or Technical Requirements
Dimensions: 460 mm (diameter)
Custodial History
This item is currently on display in The Glasgow School of Art's Stow Building. For access information please email archives@gsa.ac.uk.
Related Material
GSAA/GOV/7/5; GSAA/ISE/5/8
Additional Information
Published
Subjects
Geographical Names