Mary Stuart, 1542-1587, Queen of Scots [obverse]

17th century

British 17th Century

Associated Names
The sculpture is a relief portrait of a woman facing right. The woman has detailed facial features and an elaborate hairstyle with a bun covered by a light fabric. She wears a distinguished collar and garment. The sculpture is in a circular medallion with text reading "MARIA" on the left and "ORUM REGINA" on the right. The outer border has a dotted design. The sculpture appears to be made of bronze, giving it a warm, brown patina.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 5.42 cm (2 1/8 in.)
    gross weight: 76.46 gr (0.169 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1282.a

Associated Artworks

This is a photograph of a commemorative coin or medallion. The medallion is made of bronze and contains inscriptions in Latin around its surface, emphasized by a bead-like border. The text details a timeline of historical events, marked by Roman numerals and dated entries. The surface of the medallion appears slightly worn, but the inscriptions remain legible.

Inscription [reverse]

British 17th Century

1600


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: 2:no. 786, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: MARIA SCOT ORVM REGINA

Wikidata ID

Q63854398

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