The Castle of Pesaro [reverse]

1475

Gianfrancesco Enzola

Associated Names
Gianfrancesco Enzola

Artist, Parmese, active 1455/1478

The sculpture is a round, embossed relief depicting a castle with multiple towers and crenellations, surrounded by walls. The castle is centrally located and appears grand and fortified, with a series of battlements along the top of each tower and wall. The sculpture is crafted from a bronze or brass material, giving it a metallic sheen that is predominantly brown with slight variations in its patina that provide hints of greenish oxidization. The surface of the sculpture is intricately detailed with architectural elements highlighting the castle's windows, gates, and stone textures. The edges of the sculpture feature engraved text, encircling the castle design, although the letters are worn and partially illegible. The perspective of the relief gives the castle a prominent and imposing appearance, symbolizing strength and durability in its design.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Old cast, untrimmed

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 8.23 cm (3 1/4 in.)
    gross weight: 152.01 gr (0.335 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.690.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a circular medallion featuring the side profile of a man's face as its central subject. The man is depicted with medium-length wavy hair and a youthful appearance, wearing ornate clothing consisting of a decorative, high-collared garment. The medallion is made from a metallic material that exhibits a bronze or copper color, giving it an antique look. Surrounding the man's profile is a raised circular border with inscriptions along its entirety. The inscriptions are finely detailed, and the overall craftsmanship highlights the intricate curls of the man’s hair and the textures of his clothing. The medallion’s physical characteristics and profile presentation are reminiscent of traditional portrait medals.

Costanzo Sforza, 1447-1483, Lord of Pesaro 1473 [obverse]

Gianfrancesco Enzola

1475

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

Bibliography

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 140, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: INEXPVGNABILE CASTELLVM CONSTANTIVM PISAVRENSE SALVTI PVBILICAE M CCCC LXXV; around bottom circumference: IO[annes]FR[anciscus] PARMEN[sis]

Wikidata ID

Q63847615

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