Prudence with a Dragon at her Feet [reverse]

mid 16th century

Milanese 16th Century

Associated Names
The image shows a sculpted relief on a circular medal. The relief depicts a figure, likely female, in a graceful pose with flowing garments and styled hair. One arm is outstretched, while the other rests at her side. The figure is holding an object or attributes in her hand. The sculpture appears to be made of a metallic material, possibly bronze or copper, with a brown color and greenish patina. The circular medal has inscriptions around the perimeter, and shows signs of age with wear and small holes at the edge for hanging or mounting.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 5.2 cm (2 1/16 in.)
    gross weight: 36.51 gr (0.08 lb.)
    axis: 6:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1017.b

Associated Artworks

This is a photograph of an old coin with a detailed profile embossment. The coin features a profile of a distinguished male figure with a beard and a hat, adorned in period clothing with detailed sleeves. The outer edge of the coin contains an inscription in a circular arrangement. The patina on the coin suggests age, giving it a rusted, brown coloration with smooth and worn areas highlighting the raised details. There are two small holes at the top and bottom of the coin.

Jean de Lorraine, 1498-1550, Cardinal 1518 [obverse]

Milanese 16th Century

1525


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. 486, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: SIC ITV[R] AD ASTRA

Wikidata ID

Q63851167

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