Francesco Visdomini of Ferrara, 1509-1573, Humanist and Hebraist [obverse]

1564

Pastorino de' Pastorini, called Pastorino da Siena

Associated Names
Pastorino de' Pastorini, called Pastorino da Siena

Artist, Florentine, c. 1508 - 1592

The sculpture is a round medallion featuring a relief portrait of a man depicted in profile, facing to the right. The subject is shown with a prominent beard and short hair, wearing a cloak or robe that drapes around his shoulders. Above and around the figure, there are engraved inscriptions, likely signifying the subject's name and origin, "FRANC VIS DOMINVS FERRARIENSIS" alongside a date "1564" at the bottom. The sculpture is made from a copper alloy. The medallion includes a beaded border along the edge, and there are two small holes in the object near the edge. The craftsmanship of the piece is detailed, emphasizing the rich texture of the man's hair and beard, as well as the folds of his clothing.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 6.74 cm (2 5/8 in.)
    gross weight: 48.94 gr (0.108 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.928.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture depicts a hand wearing a gauntlet, holding a flaming sword. It is part of a round object, possibly a coin or medallion, made from aged metal with a rusty-brown patina. Surrounding the image is a border of embossed dots, with inscriptions within. Some parts of the surface show wear and small holes. The craftsmanship shows detailed work, with intricate portrayal of the hand and flames against the flat background.

Hand Issuing from a Cloud, Holding a Flaming Sword [reverse]

Pastorino de' Pastorini, called Pastorino da Siena

1564

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. 335.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 176, no. 8.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 380, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: FRANC[iscus] VISDOMINVS FERRARIEN[sis]; lower center incised on truncation: 1564 P

Wikidata ID

Q63851868

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