Design for a Chalice (recto)

mid-1500s

Luzio Romano

(Italian, active 1528–75)

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Culture

Italy, 16th century

Medium

Black chalk, pen and brown ink, and brown wash, over black chalk, on laid paper

Support

Beige(1) laid paper laid down on cream(3) laid paper (discolored)

Measurements

Sheet: 32.1 x 20 cm (12 5/8 x 7 7/8 in.)

Credit Line

Dudley P. Allen Fund 1924.587.a

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Location

Not on view

Description

An assistant to influential Renaissance designer Perino del Vaga (1501–1547), Luzio Romano is known primarily through the drawings he made for liturgical objects (objects used for public worship), such as this chalice, likely a goldsmith’s design. The foot is decorated with seraphim—the highest order of angels—and nude children below figures of women and pelicans on the base of the bowl, which together allude to the theological virtue of charity. A pelican piercing its breast to feed its young with its blood is also a symbol of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, fitting for a vessel meant to hold the eucharistic wine.