Mortar with Animals, Festoons, Shields of Arms, and Rope-shaped Handle

early 16th century

Italian 16th Century

Associated Names
Italian 16th Century

Artist

The sculpture is a decorative bronze mortar with intricate relief designs. The motifs include floral designs, animals, and a shield-like emblem on its surface. The color of the sculpture is dark bronze. The mortar appears sturdy and robust with a wide rim and a twisted handle. The craftsmanship suggests attention to detail in the design elements.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Medium brown patina

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall: 15.3 x 17 cm (6 x 6 11/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.100.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture depicts an elongated object with a handle and a flared end, resembling a trumpet or horn form. It is made of bronze with a metallic brown finish and a slightly polished sheen. The sculpture's lines are smooth, with the main cylindrical body tapering outwards to a wider bell at one end and capped with a rounded knob at the other. The surface shows variations in texture, but maintains a uniform appearance.

Pestle

Italian 16th Century

1500

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his estate; purchased 1930 by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London and New York); purchased 1945 by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York; gift 1957 to NGA.

Associated Names

Bibliography

1931

  • Ricci, Seymour de. The Gustave Dreyfus Collection: Renaissance Bronzes. Oxford, 1931: 108, no. 97, pl. 55.

1951

  • Renaissance Bronzes: Statuettes, Reliefs and Plaquettes, Medals and Coins from the Kress Collection. Introduction by Perry B. Cott. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1951: 140, repro. 44.

1965

  • Pope-Hennessy, John W. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection: Reliefs, Plaquettes, Statuettes, Utensils and Mortars. London, 1965: no. 570.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 126, no. 3.

1994

  • Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: 118, repro.

Wikidata ID

Q63809687

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