The Justice of Trajan

15th century

Pseudo Melioli

Associated Names
Pseudo Melioli

Artist, Italian, active late 15th century - early 16th century

The sculpture depicts several figures on horseback engaged in a scene. The figures are in relief against a flat background, with details such as clothing and horse harnesses subtly carved. The sculpture appears to be made of bronze with a dark brown coloration and areas of patina. The surface is textured, and the relief provides a sense of movement as the horses and figures appear to stride or reach forward with varying poses and gestures. The figures are clad in armor or historical attire and hold swords or similar objects.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Dark brown patina

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 3.68 x 5.75 cm (1 7/16 x 2 1/4 in.)
    gross weight: 29.52 gr (0.065 lb.)

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.209

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

Bibliography

1886

  • Molinier, Émile. Les Bronzes de la Renaissance. Les Plaquettes; Catalogue Raisonné. 2 vols. Paris, 1886: 2:89, no. 503: as North Italian, by the same hand as The Death of Absalom [NGA 1957.14.208].

1908

  • Migeon, Gaston. "La collection de M. Gustave Dreyfus, V: Les plaquettes." Les Arts 80 (August 1908): pl. 29, fig. 10, as North Italian.

1931

  • Ricci, Seymour de. The Gustave Dreyfus Collection. Reliefs and Plaquettes. Oxford, 1931: 63, no. 85, pl. 26, as by Pseudo Melioli.

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: 144, as by Pseudo Melioli.

1965

  • Pope-Hennessy, John W. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection: Reliefs, Plaquettes, Statuettes, Utensils and Mortars. London, 1965: 32, no. 95, fig. 153, as by the Master of the Death of Absalom (Paduan rather than Mantuan).

Wikidata ID

Q63815237

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