Armand-Jean du Plessis, 1585-1642, Cardinal de Richelieu 1622 [obverse]

1631

Jean Warin

Associated Names
Jean Warin

Medalist, Flemish, 1607 - 1672

The sculpture is a bas-relief medallion featuring a profile view of a man identified as "ARMANVS IOAN CARD DE RICHELIEV." The man is depicted wearing a cap and an elaborate, high-collared garment with visible details in the fabric and folds, along with ornamental chains and a pendant. The material of the medallion appears to be a warm, bronze metal. The sculpting accurately captures facial features such as the man's wavy hair, beard, and prominent nose. The round medallion includes the artist's name, "J. WARIN," engraved along the bottom edge. It is designed to have a small hole at the top.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze//Modern strike

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 5.13 cm (2 in.)
    gross weight: 54.68 gr (0.121 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1171.a

Associated Artworks

The image depicts a circular sculpture resembling a medallion or coin with intricate detailing. The sculpture features a globe at its center surrounded by stars in a textured band. It is made of bronze, giving it a warm, golden-brown color. The medallion includes raised text "SIDERA VOLVTVR," a cherub-like figure, and the date "1631" inscribed at the bottom.

The Globe and the Planets [reverse]

Jean Warin

1631


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. 576.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 662, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: ARMANVS IOAN[nes] CARD[inalis] DE RICHELIEV; around bottom circumference: I WARIN

Wikidata ID

Q63851752

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