Diane de Poitiers, 1499-1566, Wife of Louis de Breze, Duchess of Valentinois 1548 [obverse]

c. 1525

French 16th Century

Associated Names
The sculpture is a relief portrait on a medallion featuring a woman in profile facing left. She wears an elaborate headdress and the medallion appears to be made of a bronze or brass alloy. Surrounding the medallion is an inscription, “DIANA . DVX . VALENTINORVM . CLARISSIMA.” The craftsmanship shows intricate details in the headdress and the woman's facial features. The medallion appears slightly aged, with wear and patina consistent with its metallic composition.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Late cast

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 5.31 cm (2 1/16 in.)
    gross weight: 49.05 gr (0.108 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1146.a

Associated Artworks

This is a photograph of an ancient coin. The coin is golden and features an embossed image of a standing figure draped in flowing garments, appearing to be in motion and possibly holding something in one hand. Below this figure, two more figures are depicted lying down. Around the edge of the coin, there is an inscription in Latin script. The craftsmanship displays worn details, indicating significant age or usage, particularly in the intricate designs that seem to represent themes of victory or divine intervention. The corroded depiction is set against a plain, dark background, emphasizing the coin's warm metallic sheen.

Trampling on Cupid [reverse]

French 16th Century

1525


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. 551.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 633, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: DIANA DVX VALENTINORVM CLARISSIMA; around bottom circumference: AE[tatis] 26

Wikidata ID

Q63851309

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