Benvenuto Cellini

Florentine, 1500 - 1571

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A muscular man stands with one hand on a walking stick and the other braced on the underside of a stone block above his head in this full-length, vertical drawing. The man’s body faces our left in profile, but he turns his face to look up and off to the right. Short, curling horns nestle among his curly hair, and he has a curly goatee. He has a furry brow, like a goat, a flattened nose, and drooping eyes. His lips are parted, and his top eye teeth and bottom middle teeth show. His right hand, to our left, reaches up to the stone overhead. He holds his other arm across his body to brace that hand on a waist-high staff. He stands with his weight on his left foot, closer to us, and his other ankle crosses in front so the balls of that foot rest on the ground. A rectangular frame is drawn with brown ink, and the corners are shaded sage green. More drawn frames suggest stepped molding within a frosty green band. Cursive text in the lower right corner reads, “alla porta di fontana Bellio di bronzo p piu di dua volte il vivo b 7 erano dua variati.”
Benvenuto Cellini, A Satyr, 1544/1545, pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk on laid paper; laid down, with framing line in brown ink, Woodner Collection, Patrons' Permanent Fund, 1991.190.2

A Satyr

Benvenuto Cellini · 1544/1545 · pen and brown ink with brown wash over black chalk on laid paper; laid down, with framing line in brown ink ·  Accession ID  1991.190.2
The sculpture depicts a pair of robed figures with beards and halos on a circular object, potentially a coin or medallion. The figures walk side by side, one holding a book or tablet and both linking arms. The sculpture is made of bronze or a similar metallic material, showing a brownish color with lighter highlights from polishing. The figures are depicted in a detailed relief style, suggesting a historical or religious theme. The text on the sculpture reads "COSMVS" and "DAMIANVS" against a smooth background, enclosed by a raised border on the circular shape. The depiction is small, intricate, and meant for close inspection.
Benvenuto Cellini, Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, 1500/1571, silver testoon//Struck, Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1957.14.1259.b

Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian

Benvenuto Cellini · 1500/1571 · silver testoon//Struck ·  Accession ID  1957.14.1259.b
The sculpture features a relief portrait of a young man with curly hair, depicted in profile facing left. The portrait includes intricate details in the hair, facial features, and clothing. The sculpture is a round medallion or coin made of metal, with a bronze or copper tone. An inscription on the outer edge reads "ALEXANDER M. R. D. FLORENT." The sculpture shows signs of wear with surface dents and marks.
Benvenuto Cellini, Alessandro de' Medici, 1512-1537, 1st Duke of Florence 1523 [obverse], 1500-1571, silver testoon//Struck, Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1957.14.1259.a

Alessandro de' Medici, 1512-1537, 1st Duke of Florence 1523 [obverse]

Benvenuto Cellini · 1500-1571 · silver testoon//Struck ·  Accession ID  1957.14.1259.a
This painting shows a sculpture painted in shades of blue and gray. The sculpture portrays a nude man standing triumphantly over a fallen figure, holding a severed head in one hand and a long sword in the other. The man appears to have something on his head that may be a helmet. The sculpture faces the left, and we see it in profile. The background is tan, with some areas of pale blue and brown.
John Singer Sargent, Sketch of Cellini's "Perseus", c. 1909/1910, watercolor over graphite on wove paper, Gift of R. Horace Gallatin, 1949.1.57

Sketch of Cellini's "Perseus"

John Singer Sargent · c. 1909/1910 · watercolor over graphite on wove paper ·  Accession ID  1949.1.57