Christ in the Tomb [reverse]

c. 1464/1468

Matteo de' Pasti

Associated Names
Matteo de' Pasti

Artist, Italian, c. 1420 - 1467/1468

The sculpture is a circular relief depicting a central bearded male figure in a contemplative pose, with his left hand resting on a tool. He is surrounded by two smaller winged cherubs, one on each side, while a cross stands behind him partially. The figures are carved into a medium with a consistent brownish bronze color. The entire design is encircled with text. The material surface appears worn and aged, indicating a sense of historical craftsmanship. The size of the sculpture in the image suggests it is a medallion or plaque, viewed directly from above.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 9.31 cm (3 11/16 in.)
    gross weight: 368.82 gr (0.813 lb.)
    axis: 11:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.649.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture depicts a profile portrait of a man with long hair and a beard. There is a halo behind the head. The material seems to be bronze with an aged patina. An inscription around the perimeter of the circular medallion reads 'IESVS CHRISTVS DEVS DEI FILIVS HVMANI GENERIS SALVATOR.' The design is engraved with texture in the hair, beard, and garment.

Jesus Christ [obverse]

Matteo de' Pasti

1464

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his heirs; purchased with the entire Dreyfus collection 9 July 1930 by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London, New York, and Paris); sold 31 January 1944 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York;[1] gift 1957 to NGA.
[1] The Duveen Brothers Records document the firm’s sixteen year pursuit and eventual acquisition of the Dreyfus collection, which included paintings, sculptures, small bronzes, medals, and plaquettes. Bequeathed as part of his estate to Dreyfus’ widow and five children (a son and four daughters), who had differing opinions about its disposition, the collection was not sold until after his widow’s death in April 1929. Duveen did not wish to separate Dreyfus’ collection of small bronzes, medals, and plaquettes, and it was sold intact to the Kress Foundation for a price that was met by installment payments every three months. (Duveen Brothers Records, accession number 960015, Research Library, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles: reel 301, box 446, folders 3 and 4; reel 302, box 447, folders 1-6; reel 303, box 448, folders 1 and 2; reel 330, box 475, folder 4.) See also George Francis Hill’s discussion "A Note on Pedigrees" in his catalogue, The Gustave Dreyfus Collection: Renaissance Medals, Oxford, 1931: xii, which was commissioned by Duveen Brothers.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2001

  • Fiftieth Anniversary Celebration - Reinstallation of Kress Collection, Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama, 2001-2002, no cat.

Bibliography

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 41, repro.

2009

  • Pasini, Pier Giorgio. Il tesoro di Sigismondo e le medaglie di Matteo de' Pasti. Bologna, 2009: repro. 98.

Inscriptions

around circumference: MATTHAEI PASTII VERONENSIS OPVS

Wikidata ID

Q63847700

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