Pallas and Mars with His Horse [reverse]

1527

Giovanni Maria Pomedelli

Associated Names
Giovanni Maria Pomedelli

Artist, Veronese, 1478/1479 - 1537

The sculpture on this circular bronze medal depicts two figures, a tree, and a horse. On the left, a person is engaging with the tree, while on the right, another figure stands with a staff or spear raised and holds the reins of the horse. The figures and the horse are in relief against the background, with an inscription around the edge. The medal has a bronze appearance, and there is a small hole near the top, suggesting it may have been used as a pendant or hung as a decorative object.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 5.17 cm (2 1/16 in.)
    gross weight: 53.64 gr (0.118 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.769.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a depiction of a bearded man wearing a cap, featuring intricate details on the facial features, hair, and clothing folds. Surrounding the portrait is the text "IOANNES AEMO VENET VERONAE PRAETOR." The circular medallion is made of a bronze-like material with a warm, brownish color and slight variations. There is a perforation at the top, possibly for hanging or mounting. The sculpture resembles a historical or commemorative medallion showcasing detailed relief images on metal surfaces.

Giovanni Emo, Podesta of Verona 1527 [obverse]

Giovanni Maria Pomedelli

1527


Artwork history & notes

Provenance

(Aimé Charles) Horace His de la Salle [1795-1878], Paris; (his estate sale, Sotheby's, London, 22-25 November 1880, 1st day, no. 86); 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: 1:no. 200, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: ET PACI ET BELLO MDXXVII; across bottom under groundline: IO[annes] MARIA POMEDELLVS / VERONENSIS F[e cit]: lower center artist's device:

Wikidata ID

Q63847643

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