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PHILIP II OF SPAIN AND TRAJAN: HISTORY OF A SPECIAL UNDELIVERED GIFT AND OF THE RECEPTION OF TRAJAN'S COLUMN
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 13 January 2021
Abstract
The Pitti crystal column, preserved at the Uffizi Museum, is one of the most refined glyptic objects of the Renaissance age. Owing to its decorative system on a miniature scale, the significance of many of its scenes has remained unclear, and hence, as a consequence, so have its function, iconological message, the meaning of its all'antica style, and its intended recipient. Using detailed images of each engraved scene, this paper shows how the decorative system of the artefact (originally a mirror) is related to King Philip II of Spain (1527–1598). The entire decoration was designed to eulogize Philip II, and especially the Battle of Saint-Quentin (1557), and his consequent control over some Italian lands (Milan, Naples, Sicily and Sardinia) after the Treaty of Cateau-Cambrésis (1559). The paper investigates the reasons why Trajan's Column was chosen as an inspirational model for the Pitti column and how such an ancient model was re-elaborated and renewed through the combination of other elements that came from a wider antiquarian all'antica repertoire. In this way, it is possible to show that this valuable artefact is a clear example of how the use of all'antica style in the Renaissance was not purely referencing a glorious past, but was adapted to the use of the object itself.
La colonnetta di cristallo conservata alle Gallerie degli Uffizi (Palazzo Pitti) è uno degli esempi più raffinati della glittica rinascimentale. Tuttavia, a causa della sua miniaturistica decorazione, il significato di molte scene raffigurate è rimasto oscuro e, di conseguenza, molti altri aspetti ad esso connessi, come il possibile destinatario dell'oggetto, il significato iconologico della decorazione e il motivo del suo stile ‘all'antica' ricco di riferimenti al repertorio classico. Grazie alle dettagliate immagini, l'articolo mostra come invece il sistema decorativo dell'oggetto (originariamente uno specchio) fosse legato alla figura del re Filippo II di Spagna (1527–1598). L'intera decorazione è infatti interamente pensata per essere un elogio di Filippo II e, soprattutto, della battaglia di San Quintino (1557) e del suo conseguente controllo su alcuni territori italiani (Milano, Napoli, Sicilia e Sardegna), grazie al trattato di Cateau-Cambrésis (1559). L'articolo intende perciò mostrare le motivazioni per cui la Colonna Traiana venne scelta come modello d'ispirazione per la colonnetta Pitti e come un tale modello antico venne rielaborato e rinnovato attraverso la combinazione di molteplici spunti provenienti dal repertorio artistico antiquario. Attraverso l'analisi qui condotta, è stato dunque possibile mostrare come il pregevole manufatto sia un chiaro esempio di come lo stile ‘all'antica’ nel Rinascimento non fosse un mero riferimento a un passato glorioso ma fosse del tutto funzionale all'uso dell'oggetto stesso.
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Footnotes
I would like to thank Dr Valentina Conticelli, curator at the Department ‘Tesoro dei Granduchi’ in Palazzo Pitti (Gallerie degli Uffizi), who gave me the opportunity to study this masterpiece of Renaissance glyptics during my internship at the Uffizi Museum (2018). Thanks to the archival documents and bibliography collected during this period, I studied the Pitti column during my DAAD fellowship at the Freie Universität of Berlin (2019/20). Special thanks go to the Department of Classical Archaeology at the Freie Universität and, especially, to Prof. Dr Monika Trümper, whose scientific and human support has been crucial for my growth as scholar and researcher. During my year in Berlin, I had the opportunity to study at the Kupferstichkabinett and Kunstbibliothek; I thank both institutions for their kind collaboration in enabling me to study some Renaissance drawings and rare modern books. The final steps of my work on this article were taken during my PostDoc Max Planck Fellowship at the Bibliotheca Hertziana in Rome (2020/1); my thanks go to Prof. Dr Tanja Michalsky and her department for the stimulating conversations upon this Renaissance masterpiece. The research for the present publication has been supported by the Bibliotheca Hertziana — Max Planck Institute for Art History (BH-P-20-25).