Henri II, 1519-1559, King of France 1547 [obverse]

16th century

French 16th Century

Associated Names
French 16th Century

Artist

The sculpture depicts the profile of a bearded man with short, wavy hair, facing left. The contours of his face and neck are defined, and he is adorned in a draped garment. The material of the sculpture appears to be a bronze-like metal, giving it a warm, brown color with slightly lighter highlights. The surface of the medallion is smooth, with the raised features of the man standing out in relief. Surrounding the profile are inscriptions along the edge, set in an uppercase Roman-style font. The circular form of the sculpture resembles a medallion or coin, with the bust centered and framed by a beaded border.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Late cast

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 4.91 cm (1 15/16 in.)
    gross weight: 37.78 gr (0.083 lb.)
    axis: 1:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1140.a

Associated Artworks

This is a photograph of a highly detailed and intricately designed coin. The coin features an embossed scene depicting a mythological battle with figures and creatures in an artful composition. There is a humanoid figure emerging from water in the foreground, another figure standing to the right, and a warrior figure above them in a mid-action pose. The coin's edge has small, rounded indentations, and inscriptions in an ancient script along the perimeter. The craftsmanship of the coin suggests a high level of skill, capturing dramatic tension and movement within its circular design.

Perseus Rescuing Andromeda [reverse]

French 16th Century

1500

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. 545.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 201, no. 24.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 626, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: HENRICVS II FRANCORVM REX

Wikidata ID

Q63851292

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