Jacques de Vitry-La Lière, died 1515, Canon, Dean, and Chancellor [obverse]

1518

Medalist of 1518

Associated Names
Medalist of 1518

Medalist, French, active 1518

This is a photograph of a bronze medal with an embossed profile of a person wearing a beret, surrounded by inscriptions. The detailed lines capture the facial features and fabric folds. The medal has a patina typical of aged metal, giving it an antique appearance. The inscriptions include the name "DIACOBVS DE VITRY" and the date "1513."

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 4.9 cm (1 15/16 in.)
    gross weight: 39.86 gr (0.088 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1126.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a circular medallion featuring a cherub as the central subject, depicted with small wings and seated on a stylized creature resembling a roaring lion or a similar mythical beast. The cherub is holding a staff that goes across the shield-like figure. There is an inscription in capital letters around the perimeter of the medallion that reads: "NON CONFVNDAS ME AB EXPEC." The color of the sculpture is a warm, golden brown with a patina, giving it an aged appearance. The craftsmanship of the medallion resembles historical artifacts, possibly from the Renaissance era, and shows wear adding texture, indicating its age and usage.

Putto Holding Arms of Vitry [reverse]

Medalist of 1518

1518

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. 531.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 608, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: D[ominus] IACOBVS DE VITRI; around bottom circumference: 1518

Wikidata ID

Q63851814

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