Kinderherm c. 1600

Niccolò Roccatagliata made this small bronze sculpture, Kinderherm, sometime in the early 17th century. Roccatagliata was a master of bronze, a material prized for its durability and the fine detail it can capture through casting. Consider how the artist has used this process, with its roots in ancient traditions, to create the Herm. Molten bronze would have been poured into a mold, allowed to cool, and then carefully finished. This process, repeated countless times across centuries, connects Roccatagliata to a lineage of artisans and their techniques. The bronze gives the figure a sense of weight, and the dark, slightly reflective surface allows for the details of the child's features and the decorative elements to be highlighted. Roccatagliata’s choice of bronze and his mastery of casting elevated this small sculpture from a mere object to a work of art. The amount of labour put into its making, makes us rethink traditional notions of art and craft.