The Head of Christ

16th century

Italian 16th Century

Associated Names
The image shows a circular medallion sculpture depicting the detailed relief of a man's face with a long beard and curly hair. The subject is within a round frame, resembling a medallion or coin. The sculpture is made of a material that appears to be stone or metal with a greyish hue. The craftsmanship captures intricate details like the curls of the hair and the texture of the beard, offering a realistic representation within the circular boundary. The sculpture is raised against a smooth, dark background, providing emphasis and contrast that highlights the attentive details of the facial features.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    lead

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 5.2 cm (2 1/16 in.) gross weight: 30 gr

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.536


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

1931

  • Ricci, Seymour de. The Gustave Dreyfus Collection. Reliefs and Plaquettes. Oxford, 1931. vol.II, 402.

1965

  • Pope-Hennessy, John W. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection: Reliefs, Plaquettes, Statuettes, Utensils and Mortars. London, 1965: no. 408.

Wikidata ID

Q63814886

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