Pair of 18th century Wax "Damned Souls" Roundels

In the dimly lit private chapels and wunderkammern (cabinets of curiosities) of 18th-century Europe, art was often utilized as a visceral conduit for spiritual contemplation. This striking pair of polychrome wax roundels captures that profound intensity, presenting deeply emotive, sculptural reliefs of "damned souls." Framed within their original ebonized wooden surrounds, these medallions serve as compelling examples of the historical tradition of memento mori—a sobering yet beautiful reminder of the ephemeral nature of life and the gravity of the eternal.

The medium of wax (ceroplastica) allowed artists to achieve an astonishing level of realism, capturing the agonizing expressions and intricate anatomical details with a delicate, flesh-like translucency that stone or wood could never yield. The dark, austere ebonized frames provide a stark visual boundary, forcing the viewer into an intimate, confrontational relationship with the subjects. For the cultural collector or those seeking to anchor an interior with objects of profound historical integrity, these roundels transcend decoration, becoming psychological portraits from centuries past and offering an uncompromising glimpse into the Old World intersection of art, anatomy, and theology.

Specifications:

Origin: Italy (Likely Naples)

Period: 18th Century

Style: Baroque Ceroplastica

Material: Polychrome wax relief housed in ebonized wooden frames

Dimensions: 5 in. (Overall diameter) x 1.5 in. (d)

Condition: Authentic antique condition. The polychrome wax exhibits expected historical wear and a rich, undisturbed patina that speaks to its age. The ebonized wooden frames show natural distressing and minor losses consistent with 18th-century artifacts.

Delivery: Tariff-free complimentary shipping within the USA is included in price. Please note, this item ships from our storage facility in Italy. Please allow 4-to-6 weeks for delivery (time required for us to secure the appropriate export license from the Italian Ministry of Culture). 

Historian’s Note:

This pair of roundels belongs to the highly specialized tradition of Italian wax modeling, a practice that reached its zenith in Naples during the 17th and 18th centuries. The stylistic execution of these specific faces clearly and confidently relates to a renowned wax diorama currently held in the Victoria & Albert Museum collections (Inv. A.64-1938, The Judgement of the Damned).

While the V&A diorama was once superficially attributed to the famous wax modeler Gaetano Giulio Zumbo, it is now cataloged as the work of the Neapolitan nun and artist Caterina de Julianis. However, the precise authorship remains a subject of nuanced scholarly debate; it is highly probable that works of this specific stylistic vocabulary were produced by an exceptionally skilled hand active in or around Julianis's immediate Neapolitan circle. Adding to the fascinating provenance of this specific composition, the V&A diorama is directly mirrored by a 19th-century Russian painting of the exact same macabre scene, currently housed in the Hermitage Museum collections—a remarkable cross-cultural correspondence that underscores the enduring impact of these profound wax tableaus.