Cristoforo Madruzzo, 1512-1587, Cardinal, Prince Bishop of Trent 1539, of Brixen 1542 [obverse]

c. 1562 or after

Pier Paolo Galeotti

Associated Names
Pier Paolo Galeotti

Artist, Florentine, c. 1520 - 1584

The sculpture is a relief portrait of a bearded man in profile on a round medal or coin. The man has a slightly curly hairstyle and is dressed in a robe or formal attire. The sculpture is made of bronze with a brown coloration that reflects light, emphasizing the raised surface of the relief. There is an inscription in a classical style along the circular edge. The metal has a smooth texture with minor wear, giving it an antique appearance. The sculpture resembles a large coin or a medallion in size and shape.

Media Options

This object’s media is free and in the public domain. Read our full Open Access policy for images.

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 4.47 cm (1 3/4 in.)
    gross weight: 28.06 gr (0.062 lb.)
    axis: 6:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.946.a

Associated Artworks

The image shows a round medallion or coin-like sculpture with a bas-relief scene. The scene includes human figures around the edges and ships in the center. The sculpture is golden bronze, metal, and has a reflective surface. It is small and intricately detailed, with textured figures, ships, and a rim of raised dots along the edges.

Neptune before a Harbor [reverse]

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

1967

  • Hill, George Francis, and Graham Pollard. Renaissance Medals from the Samuel H. Kress Collection at the National Gallery of Art. London, 1967: no. 353.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 403, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: CHRISTOPHOR[us] MADRVCIVS CAR[dinalis] AC PRIN[ceps] TRIDENTI[nus] BRIXIN[ensis] Q[ue] EP[iscopu]S; around right: PETRVS PAVLVS ROM[anus]

Wikidata ID

Q63851895

You may be interested in

Loading Results