Provenance

Arnold Seligmann & Cie.

est. 1912

Explore selected works

This free-standing bronze sculpture shows the rounded, stylized forms of a person with long limbs riding astride a horse with noticeably short legs. The horse and rider are angled to our right in this photograph. The dark brown bronze gleams white where the light catches the smooth surfaces, and some areas are a burnished gold color. The horse looks ahead with large eyes. It has short ears, and its mouth is parted. The person riding the horse holds the reins with the right hand, closer to us. The reins wrap halfway around the horse’s neck and are then broken off. The cleanshaven rider has a heavy brow ridge and a long, straight nose. He wears a flat-topped cap and a robe that reaches to his ankles. The pointed toes of his shoe pokes through the small stirrup we can see. A rounded handle connects the rider’s upper back to the back of the horse. The background is taupe-gray behind the sculpture and darkens at the upper corners.
English 13th Century, Scandinavian 13th Century, Aquamanile in the Form of a Horseman, 13th century, bronze, Widener Collection, 1942.9.280

Aquamanile in the Form of a Horseman

English 13th Century, Scandinavian 13th Century · 13th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  1942.9.280

This is an ornate helmet made of dark metal with gold-colored details. It features intricate designs and patterns throughout, including symmetrical swirling and floral designs, as well as designs on the faceguard that look similar to an animal’s face, including a snarling mouth and eye holes. The lighting emphasizes the embossed and engraved elements of the helmet.
Milanese 16th Century, "The Morosini Helmet" (visored burgonet), probably 1550/1560, repoussé and embossed iron or steel, with gilding and silvering, Widener Collection, 1942.9.356

"The Morosini Helmet" (visored burgonet)

Milanese 16th Century · probably 1550/1560 · repoussé and embossed iron or steel, with gilding and silvering ·  Accession ID  1942.9.356

The sculpture depicts a dog-like animal with short legs and small ears, looking upward with its mouth open to reveal sharp teeth, its tongue hanging out. Around the neck of the creature are detailed curls of overlapping fur, perhaps depicting a mane. It is predominantly a bright gold color with patches of dark brown where the gold appears to have rubbed away. The sculpture is turned towards the left, showing the creature in profile.
North French 13th Century, Mosan 13th Century, Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion, c. 1200, bronze with traces of gilding, Widener Collection, 1942.9.281

Aquamanile in the Form of a Lion

North French 13th Century, Mosan 13th Century · c. 1200 · bronze with traces of gilding ·  Accession ID  1942.9.281

This vertical portrait shows the head, shoulders, and chest of a young man with smooth, pale skin and shoulder-length, dark blond hair positioned behind a narrow gray, stone ledge. Shown against a black background, the man tilts his head to our left and his eyes cut to our right. His left eyebrow, on our right, is slightly arched over brown eyes. He has a long, straight nose, pale pink lips, and his hair falls down the sides of his face from beneath a crimson-red, flat-topped cap. He wears a brown garment with white linen peeking through at the shoulder seams. The neck and seam down the front are lined with white, perhaps fur. He holds his right hand to his chest with his middle finger overlapping his ring finger.
Sandro Botticelli, Portrait of a Youth, c. 1482/1485, tempera on poplar panel, Andrew W. Mellon Collection, 1937.1.19

Portrait of a Youth

Sandro Botticelli · c. 1482/1485 · tempera on poplar panel ·  Accession ID  1937.1.19

This is a tapestry depicting a biblical scene. The tapestry shows a procession with figures in colorful clothing and armor. The central figure carries a large cross, surrounded by other people. The scene includes people on horseback, gesturing, and carrying banners and instruments. The landscape features trees, buildings, and hills. The border is decorated with floral and heraldic designs. The style is reminiscent of Renaissance artwork, similar to works by Pieter Bruegel the Elder.
Flemish 16th Century, The Procession to Calvary, 1530/1550, tapestry: undyed wool warp; dyed wool, silk, and silver-wrapped silk weft, Gift of Mrs. Rudolf J. Heinemann, 1982.74.1

The Procession to Calvary

Flemish 16th Century · 1530/1550 · tapestry: undyed wool warp; dyed wool, silk, and silver-wrapped silk weft ·  Accession ID  1982.74.1

Shown from the knees up, a woman holds a baby in her lap in front of a clear blue sky in this vertical painting. The woman and baby both have smooth, pale skin with rosy cheeks and flat, disk-like halos at the backs of their heads. The woman’s body is angled to our left, and she looks down and smiles faintly at the baby she holds on her lap. Her blond hair is mostly covered by a gathered and ruffled white headdress. Her forest-green robe is lined with topaz blue, and it falls over her shoulders and across her lap over a ruby-red, long-sleeved dress. The white garment beneath the dress is visible along an open seam down the arm we can see, and the front of the dress is pleated vertically from the high waist. The woman supports the baby’s back with one hand and one of his feet with her other. He has curly blond hair, round cheeks, and delicate features. He reaches for the woman with both chubby hands. A slate-blue cloth drapes over his shoulders and is tied with twisted red fabric. A gray band across the bottom of the panel suggests they sit on the far side of a stone ledge. A ridge of trees along a hill in the deep distance is visible along the left edge of the composition, and the sky above deepens from watery blue along the horizon to azure blue across the top. The surface of the painting is cracked in some areas, especially in the sky.
Italian 15th Century, Madonna and Child, c. 1470/1480, tempera on poplar panel, Samuel H. Kress Collection, 1943.4.1

Madonna and Child

Italian 15th Century · c. 1470/1480 · tempera on poplar panel ·  Accession ID  1943.4.1

The painting depicts many large and small ships on blue-green water. Gondolas in shades of gold, black, red, and blue drift across the water, small people on them pushing long poles through the water. There are also large sailboats and long boats with several rowers. They create a colorful mix. On the left, a large brown building with columns is visible. Some of the boats pull up to it, and many people in colorful clothing are visible on the shore. Behind the water are more large buildings in shades of brown, cream, and tan, with even more people visible on the streets below them. There is a large tower in the center of the painting, and several blue domes are visible in the distance. The sky is light blue, with white and gray clouds drifting across it.
Antonio Joli, Procession of Gondolas in the Bacino di San Marco, Venice, 1742 or after, oil on canvas, Gift of Mrs. Barbara Hutton, 1945.15.2

Procession of Gondolas in the Bacino di San Marco, Venice

Antonio Joli · 1742 or after · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1945.15.2

This painting depicts a square seen from above, surrounded by elegant architectural structures. On the left side, there is a large building with a red-brown facade and arched white windows with columns. On the right, there is an ornate off-white structure with arches and detailed stonework. Both of these long buildings stretch from the sides of the painting towards the center, where they converge at a gray building with tall spires and large blue domes behind it. In the square there are countless people in colorful attire, wearing shades of pink, red, blue, green, yellow, black, and blue. There are men, women, and children, and those with visible faces all appear to have light skin. Some wear white masks with bird-like noses. On the right, there is a long line of people engaging in a procession or gathering. People also line the windows of the two buildings on either side of the square. The painting is incredibly detailed, capturing architectural elements and the bustling crowd. The color palette features earthy tones for the architecture and vibrant colors for the people, all set below a pale blue sky with a few white-and-gray clouds.
Antonio Joli, Procession in the Courtyard of the Ducal Palace, Venice, 1742 or after, oil on canvas, Gift of Mrs. Barbara Hutton, 1945.15.1

Procession in the Courtyard of the Ducal Palace, Venice

Antonio Joli · 1742 or after · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1945.15.1

Bibliography

1961

  • Seligman, Germain. Merchants of Art: 1880-1960. New York, 1961.