Harpsichord and Organ [reverse]

after 1561

Italian 16th Century

Associated Names
Italian 16th Century

Artist

The sculpture is a relief of an organ, intricately carved with visible pipes and a structure resembling a keyboard. The material appears to be bronze with a metallic brown color and slight sheen. The piece is circular with a small hole at the top. Surrounding the relief are engraved letters forming an inscription around the perimeter, but parts of the text appear worn. The design suggests a focus on artistic detail and musical imagery.

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): 5.05 cm (2 in.)
    gross weight: 36.45 gr (0.08 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1103.b

Associated Artworks

The image shows a circular medallion featuring a relief portrait of a man's bust, viewed in profile. The man appears to be facing left, with only his neck and head visible. His facial features include a prominent, long beard and mustache, and he has a deeply expressive face with a high forehead. The man’s hair is wavy and recedes slightly at the temples. He seems to be gazing intently outward. The clothing he is depicted wearing appears to be draped, likely representing a robe or similar traditional garment, with intricate folds suggestive of textured fabric. The medallion has a prominent edge, with text partially visible reading "VINCENTINVS NICOLAS." The background of the medallion is smooth, with a natural metallic color, and there is a small hole near the edge, perhaps for suspension. The entire piece is set against a black backdrop.

Nicola Vicentino, 1511-c. 1576, Composer and Musical Theorist [obverse]

Italian 16th Century

1561

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. 581, repro.

Inscriptions

around top circumference: PERFECTAE MVSICAE DIVIDIONISQ[ue] INVENTOR;center right incisedon organ: ARCIORGANVM; center left incised on cymbalum: ARCHICEMBALVM

Wikidata ID

Q63851388

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