Die Begegnung von Papst Leo des Großen mit dem Hunnenkönig Attila
nach 1657 | Ercole Ferrata
This relief illustrates the legend according to which Pope Leo the Great came to meet Attila, king of the Huns invading Italy, to persuade him to turn back. During this encounter, the two princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, supposedly appeared to Attila, hovering in the clouds and hurrying with drawn swords to the aid of the Church in her hour of need. Deeply perturbed by this, Attila is said to have withdrawn from Italy. Alessandro Algardi illustrated this theme in a colossal marble relief, made between 1646 and 1653 for St. Peters in Rome, a work which established his international reputation. Shortly afterwards, his pupil Ercole Ferrata made a smaller terracotta version, which was cast in silver relief and presented to the Spanish king in 1657. The bronze relief in the treasury seems to have been cast from the same model.
This relief illustrates the legend according to which Pope Leo the Great came to meet Attila, king of the Huns invading Italy, to persuade him to turn back. During this encounter, the two princes of the Apostles, Peter and Paul, supposedly appeared to Attila, hovering in the clouds and hurrying with drawn swords to the aid of the Church in her hour of need. Deeply perturbed by this, Attila is said to have withdrawn from Italy. Alessandro Algardi illustrated this theme in a colossal marble relief, made between 1646 and 1653 for St. Peters in Rome, a work which established his international reputation. Shortly afterwards, his pupil Ercole Ferrata made a smaller terracotta version, which was cast in silver relief and presented to the Spanish king in 1657. The bronze relief in the treasury seems to have been cast from the same model.
Artist:
Ercole Ferrata (1610 Pellio Inferiore - 1686 Rom) DNB
After:
Alessandro Algardi (1598 Bologna - 1654 Rom) DNB
Time:
nach 1657
Object Name
Relief
Culture
Rom
Material/technology:
Bronze, feuervergoldet; Rahmen: Bronze, Kupfer, Silber
Dimensions:
H. 98 cm, B. 59,5 cm
H. 158 cm, B. 96 cm
Copyright
Kunsthistorisches Museum, Geistliche Schatzkammer
Invs.
Schatzkammer, GS D 164
Browse more
Similar items you might be interested in
Geißelung Christi Alessandro Algardi um 1628/30
Madonna J. Löwy, K. und K. Hof-Photograph, Kunst- und Verlagsanstalt (Wien) 1888 bis 1910
Madonna J. Löwy, K. und K. Hof-Photograph, Kunst- und Verlagsanstalt (Wien) 1888 bis 1910
Maria mit Kind J. Löwy, K. und K. Hof-Photograph, Kunst- und Verlagsanstalt (Wien) 1888 bis 1891
Madonna with the Pear Albrecht Dürer 1512
Winged Altarpiece (so-called „Mömpelgard Altarpiece“) Heinrich Füllmaurer circa 1538/40
Karl I. (V.) (1516-1556), als Karl I. König von Spanien, ab 1519 deutscher König, ab 1520 Kaiser 1509
Maximilian I. (1477-1519), seit 1493 deutscher König, 1508 Kaiser 1509
Haudegen; Cinquedea (Ochsenzunge); Kalenderdegen J. Löwy, K. und K. Hof-Photograph, Kunst- und Verlagsanstalt (Wien) 1892
Sogenanntes Schwert Kaiser Karls V.; Schwert der St. Peters-Ritterschaft; Schwert J. Löwy, K. und K. Hof-Photograph, Kunst- und Verlagsanstalt (Wien) 1892