Francesco Petrarca [obverse]

c. 1500

Florentine 15th Century

Associated Names
Florentine 15th Century

Artist

The sculpture on the medal is a side profile of a man wearing a hood or draped garment over his head. The figure is executed in a relief style, protruding slightly from the background. The medal is predominantly dark bronze with an aged patina, typical of oxidized bronze surfaces. Raised lettering along the edge surrounds the figure. The dimensions and lighting focus on the figure's profile, highlighting features such as a prominent nose and a hint of a beard.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Late cast

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 5.43 cm (2 1/8 in.)
    gross weight: 66.35 gr (0.146 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.895.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a circular relief depicting a figure standing amidst a grove of trees. The figure has flowing hair and a draped garment, and is holding or reaching out towards something in front of her with both hands. The relief is textured, capturing details of the trees and garment. The sculpture is made of a bronze-like material with a dark brown color with reddish tones and a slightly reflective, aged patina. The raised portions catch the light against the dark background, highlighting the figure and trees.

Poetry Walking in a Wood [reverse]

Florentine 15th Century

1500

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. 301.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 340, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: FRANCISCVS PETRARCA FLORENTINVS

Wikidata ID

Q63851096

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