A candlestick, in elevation, resting on upper and lower pedestals. The lower pedestal, supported by lion's feet, is flanked by terminal, winged, caryatid cherubim (or seraphim) perching on curling volutes; in between is a central panel depicting a scene of sacrifice (a figure with arms outstretched is between two standing figures flanking a bull (?) splayed on the altar). Between the lion's paws at the base (on the lowest rectangular block), there is a scalloped lunette with an urn at its center, from which hang paired festoons. At the top of the lowest pedestal, the wings of the addorsed cherubim terminate in a frontal, bald-headed mask with fin-like jowls. These cherubim support the stepped, base molding (scored with a stylus) of the upper pedestal which is flanked by two ram heads, with garlands hanging from their mouths, above two animal masks. Two cinerary urns in niches decorate the upper pedestal's central panel. Atop the two-tiered pedestals, the upper candlestick shaft consists of a vase surmounted by an urn and another upper section. A baluster crowns the shaft. Faintly sketched are six branches (three on either side of the upper shaft) to suggest an overall seven-branched candlestick design. At the lower right, two plan sketches with numbers ("8" and "5") indicating, probably, the size of the marble block needed to carve the corresponding sections of the candelabrum (as Sir Timothy Clifford has called it); the numbers correspond to others on the more finished drawing. Some believe the design might have been intended to be realized in metal.

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Object Timeline

-0001	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
1942	We acquired this object.
2012	We photographed this object.
2013	This was an Object of the Day.
2021	You found it!

Drawing, Design for a Candlestick, 1520–30

This is a Drawing. It was designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti. It is dated 1520–30 and we acquired it in 1942. Its medium is black chalk, brush and brown wash, incised lines and compass points on cream laid paper, lined. It is a part of the Drawings, Prints, and Graphic Design department.

This object was featured in our Object of the Week series in a post titled Hidden Treasure.

It is credited Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John Innes Kane.

Drawing in three registers. Upper register, garlands are suspended from a large mask which is flanked by open scrolls; central register, two male nudes (slave figures in the style of Michelangelo) rest neatly within each curving concave side of the base flanking a framed central oval medallion; lower register, volutes and lion paws with the Farnese crest at center. The left half of the sheet is more finished. Verso: Figures in a tondo. Left foreground, the Madonna is shown seated supporting the dead Christ in her lap; right foreground, the Magdalene kneels beside the Madonna behind which an unidentified figure stands. Left background, the Cross is faintly suggested. Upper edge of tondo, angels' heads.

Drawing, Design for the Base of the Silver Crucifix for the High Altar of...
pen and brown ink, brush and brown wash, black chalk on off-white laid paper;....
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
1938-88-6982

A smoking baluster candelabra decorated with masks, swags and sphinxes. At right, strapwork with masks forms the right portion of an escutcheon.

Drawing, Design for Candelabrum Motif and Strapwork Escutcheon, ca. 1560
pen and brown ink, black chalk, brush and violet watercolor on off-white laid....
Museum purchase through gift of various donors and from Eleanor G. Hewitt Fund.
1938-88-2923

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 43.4 x 25.4cm (17 1/16 x 10in.) Mat: 55.9 x 40.6 cm (22 x 16 in.)

It has the following markings

Watermark: anchor in circle, six-pointed star on top, similar to Briquet 478 (Bergamo, 1502) or Briquet 511(Udine, 1535)

It is inscribed

Inscribed in black chalk, center, on molding of upper pedestal: 8; lower center on margin of Sacrifice panel: +; at lower right, in center lower plan: 5; on upper rim of lower plan: 8; on left edge of lower plan: +

Cite this object as

Drawing, Design for a Candlestick, 1520–30; Designed by Michelangelo Buonarroti (Italian, 1475–1564); Italy; black chalk, brush and brown wash, incised lines and compass points on cream laid paper, lined; H x W x D: 43.4 x 25.4cm (17 1/16 x 10in.) Mat: 55.9 x 40.6 cm (22 x 16 in.); Museum purchase through gift of Mrs. John Innes Kane; 1942-36-4

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2D9Uv/
Accession Number 1942-36-4
Object ID 18565597