The Death of Marcus Curtius c. 15th century

"The Death of Marcus Curtius" is a 15th-century bronze plaquette by the Master IO.F.F., a German artist active in the first half of the 16th century. The plaquette, a small, low-relief sculpture, depicts the Roman legend of Marcus Curtius, a hero who sacrificed himself by leaping into a chasm in the Roman Forum to appease the gods and end an earthquake. The detailed composition is characteristic of the master's style, with a focus on narrative and anatomical precision. The plaquette's small size and intricate details, including a delicate architectural backdrop, were typical of Renaissance plaquettes, which served as devotional objects or commemorative gifts.