Faith Pointing to Heaven [reverse]

mid 16th century

Milanese 16th Century

Associated Names
The image shows a bronze medallion sculpted in relief with a classical female figure at its center. She is depicted standing in a dynamic pose, adorned in flowing drapery, and holding a chalice in her left hand while raising her right hand with her index finger pointing upwards. The material is bronze with a rich patina, giving it a brownish appearance. Surrounding the figure is a circular band of text in Latin, reading "DV M SPIRITVS HOS REGET ARTVS" in capital letters. The medallion appears small and delicate, with detailed features and attire, and has a small hole near the top.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 5.1 cm (2 in.)
    gross weight: 42.2 gr (0.093 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1016.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a circular medal with a side profile relief of a man. The man has short, curly hair and facial hair including a mustache and beard. He is dressed in ornate armor, visible from relief work on his shoulder. The color of the sculpture is dark brown, suggesting a material like bronze. There is engraved text surrounding the man's head. The sculpture is a flat, round object with a hole near its edge. The text wraps around the circumference of the medal.

Pietro Piantanida [obverse]

Milanese 16th Century

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. 485, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: DVM SPIRITVS HOS REGET ARTVS

Wikidata ID

Q63851164

You may be interested in

Loading Results