Agostino Barbarigo, c. 1420-1501, Doge of Venice 1486-1501 [obverse]

c. 1495

Sperandio

Associated Names
Sperandio

Artist, Mantuan, c. 1425/1428 - c. 1504

The image depicts a round sculptural medallion with a relief portrait of a man with a long beard and a headpiece resembling a beret or turban. The material appears to be bronze with a brownish patina. The portrait is in a three-quarter view, facing towards the viewer, showing facial features and textured clothing details. Surrounding the portrait is text inscribed in a circular format on the medallion's rim.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Late cast

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 8.7 cm (3 7/16 in.)
    gross weight: 275.14 gr (0.607 lb.)
    axis: 1:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.725.a

Associated Artworks

The image depicts a circular relief sculpture with a seated man interacting with a winged lion. The man has a beard, wears a robe and hat, and holds a staff with a banner. The lion stands with wings spread and has a halo. The relief is on a circular disk with engraved text at the bottom. The material appears to have a reddish-brown patina, possibly copper or bronze. The sculpture is a medallion with detailed relief carvings.

Doge Barbarigo Kneeling before the Winged Lion of Venice [reverse]

Sperandio

1495


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

1967

  • Hill, George Francis, and Graham Pollard. Renaissance Medals from the Samuel H. Kress Collection at the National Gallery of Art. London, 1967: no. 132 (Appendix).

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 92, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: AVGVSTINVS BARBADICVS VENETORVM DVX

Wikidata ID

Q63847836

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