Il Moro di Venezia (Othello)
Entry ID
-
1 (4/01/2022)
Formal title of the work
-
Il Moro di Venezia (Othello)
-
The Moor of Venice (Othello)
Description of the sculpture
-
A bronze and marble bust depicting the Shakespearean character, Othello. The base includes a relief of the Winged Lion of St Mark, symbol of the Republic of Venice, alluding to the setting of Shakespeare's play.
URLs where this is recorded/available
Type of object
-
Bust – Portrait
Base
-
Base present - appears to be the original base
Dimensions
-
Height: 72 cm
-
Width: 43 cm
-
Depth: 34.5 cm
Materials
-
Marble – white
-
Bronze
Specific techniques used
-
Casting
-
Carving
-
Patination
Overall colour
-
Polychrome
Inscriptions
-
‘Calvi Milano’ (indicating that it was carved by Calvi in Milan)
Does the Black person have a specific identity?
-
Identifiable: person from literature/ musicals/ opera
Identity of Black person (real or fictive)
Attributes
-
Winged Lion of Venice (base)
Role within sculpture
-
Main protagonist
Gender
-
Male
Age
-
Adult
Status
-
Noble
Clothing
-
Wearing clothes – ‘exotic’ clothing
Evidence of enslavement
-
None
Evidence of 'exotic' status
-
‘Exotic’ costume/dress
Action or activity
-
Not relevant (head)
Emotional state
-
Noble/proud
Focus of gaze of Black person
-
Looking sideways
Sculptural context
-
No location included/implied
Sculptor
Place of production
Period of production
-
Nineteenth century (1800-1899)
Date of Production
-
c. 1880-1882
Date inferred from
-
Recorded in related documentation
Original purpose
-
Decorative
Original display setting
-
Unknown
Current owner
Current / most recently known location
Accession number
-
SC21 BORGM
Provenance history
-
1921: gifted to the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum by Sir Merton Russell-Cotes
-
c. 1907 - 1921: owned by Sir Merton Russell-Cotes
Exhibition history
Notes
-
The likeness for this bust is said to be inspired by Ira Frederick Aldridge (1807-1867), an American and later British actor, playwright and theatre manager. The son of an American slave, Aldridge became well-known throughout Europe for his portrayal of Othello.
Current rights holder
License terms for reuse
http://13.41.147.145/s/database/item/36, . (no date) ‘Il Moro di Venezia (Othello)’, Black People in European Sculpture, accessed May 5, 2025, http://13.41.147.145/s/database/item/161
