Girolamo Zane, Venetian Senator [obverse]

1540

Andrea Spinelli

Associated Names
Andrea Spinelli

Artist, Venetian, 1508 - 1572

The sculpture is a relief portrait of a man in profile, facing left. The man has distinct features, including a prominent forehead, pronounced nose, and full beard. His hair is styled back. The sculpture shows the man dressed in historical attire, as indicated by the fabric folds around his shoulders. The circular sculpture is made of gold, with a shiny finish. There is raised text surrounding the relief. The artwork is set against a black background.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    gilded bronze//Struck

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 4.1 cm (1 5/8 in.)
    gross weight: 32.35 gr (0.071 lb.)
    axis: 6:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1008.a

Associated Artworks

The image depicts a round sculpture in the form of a medallion featuring a detailed embossed design. The sculpture shows a scene with a central figure, possibly a man, kneeling or partially reclining, with an extended arm towards a seated figure, possibly holding a small object. The background includes various intricate elements such as foliage, architectural structures, and possibly animals. The sculpture is made of golden-colored metal with a circular border decorated with a dotted pattern. There is an inscription at the bottom that reads "AND.SPINE.LLE 1849." The scene is carved in high relief to emphasize contours and details.

Saint Jerome in the Wilderness [reverse]

Andrea Spinelli

1540

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. 415.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 131, no. 14.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 473, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: HYERO[nymus] ZANE SENAT[or] OPT[imus]

Wikidata ID

Q63851064

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