Concord Holding Cornucopiae [reverse]

16th century

Valerio Belli

Associated Names
Valerio Belli

Artist, Italian, 1468 - 1546

The image shows a sculpture of a seated figure that appears to be a woman. She is sitting in a relaxed position and holding a cornucopia in her outstretched right hand. The figure is draped in flowing garments, emphasizing her body's contours. The sculpture is on a circular surface with a single hole near the edge. The color of the sculpture is golden-brown, possibly made of bronze or oxidized metal. The surface is textured, adding to the relief effect. There is an inscription in vertically oriented text to the left of the subject, but its specific content is unclear. The contrast between the raised relief of the sculpture and the background highlights the figure's details within the circular frame.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 2.89 cm (1 1/8 in.)
    gross weight: 13.78 gr (0.03 lb.)
    axis: 1:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.980.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture depicts a profile portrait of a female figure. The figure wears a decorative headdress, earrings, and Greek inscriptions surround the portrait. The sculpture is made of metal, likely bronze, featuring a weathered, dark golden color. The portrait is in relief against the flat background of the medallion. A hole is located at the top of the coin. The craftsmanship is detailed with intricate facial features and adornments.

Helen of Troy [obverse]

Valerio Belli

1500


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. 442, repro.

Inscriptions

center left in Greek: The Greek Confederacy?

Wikidata ID

Q63851931

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