Mercury Carrying a Caduceus [reverse]

c. 1486

Style of Niccolò Fiorentino

Associated Names
Niccolò Fiorentino

Related Artist, Florentine, 1430 - 1514

The sculpture depicts a figure in motion with long flowing hair and a hat, wearing draped clothing with a waist sash, rolled-up sleeves, and one arm raised. The figure has winged sandals on their feet and holds a staff entwined with two serpents and wings, resembling a caduceus. The circular relief sculpture is made of bronze with a varied patina. The design is raised on the medallion's surface, adding depth and texture.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 7.81 cm (3 1/16 in.)
    gross weight: 190.84 gr (0.421 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.890.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a relief on a round medallion depicting the left profile of a person with long flowing hair and a serious expression. The surface of the medallion is bronze in color. The person depicted wears a garment with a high collar, sculpted with fine lines. An inscription runs along the edge of the medallion. The representation is realistic, with detailed facial features.

Lorenzo di Giovanni Tornabuoni, 1466-1497 [obverse]

Anonymous Artist

1486


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

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 333, repro.

Wikidata ID

Q63851084

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