Hippocrates [reverse]

c. 1552

Milanese 16th Century

Associated Names
Milanese 16th Century

Artist

The image shows a sculpture of a round medallion with a relief of a bearded man in profile facing left. He wears a helmet with a unique design and Greek inscriptions. The medallion is a warm, brownish-bronze color, implying it is made of bronze. The edges have characters resembling Greek lettering, framing the portrait of the man with detailed texture in his hair, beard, and attire. The sculpture is set against a black background, allowing the intricate craftsmanship and material to be seen clearly in the light highlighting its geometric details.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 4.9 cm (1 15/16 in.)
    gross weight: 49.3 gr (0.109 lb.)
    axis: 6:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1018.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a relief of a male figure's profile on a round medallion. The man has curly hair and a short beard, wearing a garment with a high collar. The medallion is primarily reddish-brown, possibly made from metal like bronze or copper. The sculpture is encircled by inscriptions. The details in the hair and facial features aim to convey a lifelike likeness in a limited space.

Gianfrancesco Martignoni, Milanese Physician [obverse]

Milanese 16th Century

1552

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. 487, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference in Greek: the gift of the Hellas which he saved

Wikidata ID

Q63851170

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