Pietro Aretino, 1492-1556, Satirist [obverse]

c. 1542

Italian 16th Century

Associated Names
Italian 16th Century

Artist

The image displays a sculpted medallion featuring the profile of a man with a long beard and curly hair. The man is wearing intricately detailed clothing with a chain or rope-like embellishment around the neck. The medallion is circular and bronze in color, possibly made of metal. The inscription "DIVVS PETRVS ARETINVS" is carved along the perimeter in a classical serif font. The man's head and shoulders are in relief against a slightly recessed background. Fine details in the hair, beard, and clothing enhance the realism of the sculpture.

Media Options

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On View

West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G16

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 6 cm (2 3/8 in.)
    gross weight: 77.16 gr (0.17 lb.)
    axis: 6:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1020.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture depicted on this medallion features a scene with three human figures and possibly an animal. At the center is a seated, nude woman with long hair, whose body is partially turned sideways. She is interacting with a smaller, kneeling figure to her left, who is wearing a helmet reminiscent of classical attire. Standing to the woman's right is another figure draped in flowing garments, raising an arm and holding something above their head. The sculpture exhibits rich, earthy tones characteristic of a bronze material, giving it a brownish-golden hue. The details on the figures suggest a classic and historical style, with intricate detailing of the figures' hair and garments. Encircling the figures are the inscribed words "VERITAS ODIVM PARIT."

Truth Crowned by Victory [reverse]

Italian 16th Century

1542

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Princess Belgioioso, Milan; (sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 19-20 May 1879, no. 62); 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

Exhibition History

1970

  • The Age of Vasari, Art Gallery, University of Notre Dame, Indiana; University Art Gallery, State University of New York at Binghamton, 1970, no. M18.

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. 484a.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 133, no. 19.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 561, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: DIVVS PETRVS ARETINVS

Wikidata ID

Q63851400

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