Prudence [reverse]

before 1525

Girolamo Santacroce

Associated Names
Girolamo Santacroce

Artist, Neapolitan, c. 1502 - 1537

The image features a round sculpture or medallion of a seated woman in a classical style. She is depicted draped in flowing garments, holding a cluster of reeds or lotuses. Her hair is styled in an updo and she wears a diadem. The sculpture is made of patinated bronze or copper, giving it a reddish-brown color. The relief design creates depth and shadow. Below the figure, "NILABEST" is inscribed.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 3.77 cm (1 1/2 in.)
    gross weight: 32.58 gr (0.072 lb.)
    axis: 6:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.702.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a detailed depiction of a man in profile, facing left, wearing a richly adorned helmet with a small winged figure on top. The man's features are strong, and his garment is intricately decorated with patterns. This is a relief sculpture on a round, coin-like medium. The color of the sculpture is a consistent bronze hue. The edges of the round sculpture contain an inscription that encircles the central figure. The texture of the sculpture's surface is slightly rugged. The size of the sculpture in relation to other objects is not discernible from the image.

Andrea Carafa, Count of Santa Severina [obverse]

Girolamo Santacroce

1525

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. 153, repro.

Inscriptions

across bottom: NIL ABEST

Wikidata ID

Q63847660

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