The Nativity

16th century

French 16th Century

Associated Names
French 16th Century

Artist

The relief depicts a nativity scene with a figure resembling Mary kneeling beside a baby, possibly Joseph holding a staff next to her, other figures, animals including a cow, and two angels above. The sculpture is crafted in a rectangular plaque form with a rounded top, made from a metallic material like bronze with a weathered brown and green patina. It is intricately detailed with raised elements defining the figures and framed by an inscribed border.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Light brown patina

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (arched top): 6.6 x 5.2 cm (2 5/8 x 2 1/16 in.) gross weight: 79 gr

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.554

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. Reliefs and Plaquettes. Oxford, 1931. vol.II, 420.

1965

  • Pope-Hennessy, John W. Renaissance Bronzes from the Samuel H. Kress Collection: Reliefs, Plaquettes, Statuettes, Utensils and Mortars. London, 1965: no. 417.

Inscriptions

around perimeter: NATIVITAS.DOMINI.POVR.NOVS.DEMOSTRER.HVMILITE.DIEV.VOVLSIT.NAISTRE.EN.POVVRETE

Wikidata ID

Q63814906

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