Christ Carrying the Cross

1525 or after

Valerio Belli

Associated Names
Valerio Belli

Artist, Italian, 1468 - 1546

The sculpture is a detailed bronze relief depicting a dramatic scene with several figures. The central figure appears to be an older man wearing a robe, possibly a clerical figure, being restrained or aided by several surrounding figures. To the right, two figures seem to be pulling or guiding the central character. On the left side, a soldier-like figure in armor is gripping the older man's arm, while another person, possibly a woman dressed in a draped garment, is kneeling and reaching out with hands clasped together. Above the central scene, additional figures can be seen in a background banner. The bronze material gives the sculpture a uniform dark brown color with slight green patina in some areas. The relief is circular and has inscriptions along the bottom edge, with a small hole at the top. The composition is richly detailed, capturing movement and interaction among the figures and is representative of historical or allegorical storytelling.

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On View

West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G16


Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Dark brown patina

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (oval): 8.7 x 11.8 cm (3 7/16 x 4 5/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.491


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:, 1:198-199, no. 274.

1908

  • Migeon, Gaston. "La collection de M. Gustave Dreyfus, V: Les plaquettes." Les Arts 80 (August 1908): 28, fig. 5.

1931

  • Ricci, Seymour de. The Gustave Dreyfus Collection. Reliefs and Plaquettes. Oxford, 1931. vol. II, 244, no. 357, pl. 103.

1951

  • National Gallery of Art. Renaissance Bronzes: Statuettes, Reliefs and Plaquettes, Medals and Coins from the Kress Collection. Introduction by Perry B. Cott. Washington, 1951: 156.

1965

  • Pope-Hennessy, John W. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection: Reliefs, Plaquettes, Statuettes, Utensils and Mortars. London, 1965: 9, no. 8, fig. 356.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 115, no. 8.

2004

  • Donati, Valentino and Rosanna Casadio. Bronzi e pietre dure nelle incisione di Valerio Belli vicentino. Ferrara, 2004: 78.

Inscriptions

across center in exergue: VALERIVS.VICENTINVS.F.

Wikidata ID

Q63815268

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