Borso d'Este, 1413-1471, Marquess of Ferrara 1450, Duke of Modena and Reggio 1452 [obverse]

1460

Jacopo Lixignolo

Associated Names
Jacopo Lixignolo

Artist, Italian, active 1460

The relief sculpture depicts a man in profile, facing right. He wears a robe with ornate patterns, a necklace, and a distinctive capped head. The sculpture is circular with inscriptions along the outer band, made of a dark, bronze-like metal. The craftsmanship focuses on intricate details of the clothing and the man's face, displaying realistic textures and forms.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    lead

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 8.21 cm (3 1/4 in.)
    gross weight: 198.04 gr (0.437 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.627.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a relief carving on a circular disk showing a landscape scene. The central figure is a humanoid wearing a hat and holding a walking stick. The background features a mountainous landscape with a sun symbol above. The sculpture is silver and appears to be made of metal with a polished surface. The outer edge of the disk has embossed text. The sculpture is set against a black background.

Unicorn Dipping Its Horn into a Stream [reverse]

Jacopo Lixignolo

1460

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

1967

  • Hill, George Francis, and Graham Pollard. Renaissance Medals from the Samuel H. Kress Collection at the National Gallery of Art. London, 1967: no. 35.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 52, no. 20.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 54, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: BORSIVS DVX MVTINE ET REGII MARCHIO ESTENSIS RODIGIIQ[ue] COMES ETC.

Wikidata ID

Q63847661

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