Minerva Armed [reverse]

1562

Pier Paolo Galeotti

Associated Names
Pier Paolo Galeotti

Artist, Florentine, c. 1520 - 1584

The sculpture depicted on the coin is of a standing figure dressed in armor and classical drapery. The figure holds a long spear in one hand and a circular shield in the other. Surrounding elements include landscape details and possibly an animal figure at the feet of the main character. The sculpture is part of a coin crafted from copper, giving it a rich, brownish hue. The design is detailed, with raised portions of the sculpture standing out against the smoother background surface of the coin, encircled by an inscription: "OMNIS·IN·HOC·SUM". The coin's edge is decorated with a series of small raised dots, creating a framed effect.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 3.73 cm (1 7/16 in.)
    gross weight: 20.08 gr (0.044 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.943.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a circular medallion featuring a detailed portrait of a man's profile. The subject has short curly hair and a full beard, and is dressed in draped clothing or a robe. The sculpture is made of bronze and showcases intricate details of the man's hair and facial features. Raised beaded border decorates the edges, and an inscription appears around the profile. The medallion is slightly angled and displays the man's side profile against a solid black background.

Girolamo Figino, 16th Century Milanese Painter [obverse]

Pier Paolo Galeotti

1562


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. 400, repro.

Inscriptions

around top circumference: OMNIS IN HOC SVM

Wikidata ID

Q63851885

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