Door Knocker

16th century

Italian 16th Century

Associated Names
Italian 16th Century

Artist

The sculpture depicts a mythological creature resembling a merman with a human-like upper body, complete with a detailed and muscular torso, and an enchanting face with well-defined features. Extending from the figure's back are two large, intricately carved wings. The lower part of the sculpture transitions into a scaly tail, which curves elegantly around to form a loop. The bronze sculpture exhibits a dark patina with areas of lighter bronzed highlights, suggesting aged metal. The piece is ornately crafted, with exquisite detailing along the wings and tail, and includes floral and foliate decorations near the top. The sculpture is relatively small and invites appreciation of its intricate details.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Medium brown patina

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 15.9 x 11.2 x 3 cm (6 1/4 x 4 7/16 x 1 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.120

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his estate; purchased 1930 by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London and New York); purchased 1945 by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York; gift 1957 to NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1989

  • Renaissance and Baroque Bronzes, Milwaukee Museum of Art, Wisconsin, 1989, brochure, no. 6.

1998

  • A Collector's Cabinet, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 1998, no. 104.

Bibliography

1931

  • Ricci, Seymour de. The Gustave Dreyfus Collection: Renaissance Bronzes. Oxford, 1931: 136, no. 117, pl. 79.

1951

  • Renaissance Bronzes: Statuettes, Reliefs and Plaquettes, Medals and Coins from the Kress Collection. Introduction by Perry B. Cott. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1951: 140, as Door knocker in the shape of a siren by Italian (Venetian?) 16th Century.

1965

  • Pope-Hennessy, John W. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection: Reliefs, Plaquettes, Statuettes, Utensils and Mortars. London, 1965: no. 545.

1994

  • Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: 114, repro.

2010

  • Luchs, Alison. The Mermaids of Venice: Fantastic Sea Creatures in Venetian Renaissance Art. Turnhout, Belgium, 2010: 173, fig. 224, 224 n. 48.

Wikidata ID

Q63809722

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