A Satyr

late 15th or early 16th century

Master of the Martelli Mirror

Associated Names
Master of the Martelli Mirror

Sculptor, North Italian, possibly Mantuan, late 15th or early 16th century

This vertical oval relief depicts a bearded man in profile, facing right. The man is muscular, with his upper body bare and his arms partially covered by a draped garment. He has curly hair and pointed ears. His head is adorned with leaves, suggesting a wreath, and his gaze is directed slightly upwards. His left arm is bent upright with his pointer finger and pinkie raised up. In his right hand he appears to hold a mug or vessel. Behind him is a staff topped with a decorative element resembling a torch or flower. The sculpture is a dark brown color, with small spots of green patina. A small hole is visible at the top center of the sculpture.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Widener Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (oval): 10.96 x 8.31 cm (4 5/16 x 3 1/4 in.)
    gross weight: 151.49 gr (0.334 lb.)

  • Accession Number

    1942.9.192

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Oscar Hainauer [d. 1894], Berlin; his wife, Julie Hainauer, Berlin; acquired 1906 by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London, New York, and Paris); by exchange 21 October 1920 to Joseph E. Widener, Lynnewood Hall, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania; gift 1942 to NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1897

  • Bode, Wilhelm von, ed. Die Sammlung Oscar Hainauer / The Collection of Oscar Hainauer. [bound as one volume, English and German pages interleaved in one page sequence] Berlin, 1897 and London, 1906: 84, no. 145 (Plaquette no. 4), as by Donatello.

1908

  • A Cabinet of One Hundred & Thirty-Three Bronze Plaques and Medals of the Renaissance Period from the Collection of the Late Herr Oscar Hainauer of Berlin. Ed. Duveen Brothers. London, n.d. (but 1908): no. 49, repro.

1942

  • Works of Art from the Widener Collection. Foreword by David Finley and John Walker. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1942: 15.

Markings

Reverse bears former inventory numbers P. 4 (for Plaquette no. 4) in black ink (Bode/Thieme 1897/1906) and 49. in white paint (Hainauer/Duveen 1908).

Wikidata ID

Q63809857

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