Juan de Herrera, c. 1530-1597, Architect of the Escorial [obverse]

1578

Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo

Associated Names
Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo
Artist, Milanese, 1515/1519 - 1589
The relief on a round, coin-like medallion depicts a man's profile looking to the left. The man has short curly hair, a full beard, and wears an ornate ruffled collar. The medallion is a rich bronze color. There is an inscription around the edge that reads "IOAN HERRERA PHIL II REG HISPR ARCHITEC." The craftsmanship shows intricate details in the face and clothing.

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): 5.12 cm (2 in.)
    gross weight: 40.55 gr (0.089 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1033.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a relief carving on a coin or medallion. The scene features a seated figure, likely a woman, draped in robes. She is next to architectural elements including columns and a temple with steps. The circular piece has a raised, beaded edge. The figure holds an object and there is a basket or urn beside her. The material appears to be bronze. The relief carving contrasts with the background. There is a Latin inscription below the image: "DEO ET OPT PRINC."

Architecture Seated before Buildings [reverse]

Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo
1578

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

Exhibition History

1953

  • Renaissance Portraits, Smith College Museum of Art, Northampton, Massachusetts, 1953, no cat.

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. 440.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 181, no. 24.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 507, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: IOAN[nes] HERRERA PHIL[ippi] II REG[is] HISPP[aniarum] ARCHITEC[tus]; around bottom circumference: IAC[obus] TR[ezzo] 1578

Wikidata ID

Q63851726

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