Philipp von Pfalz-Neuburg, Count Palatine, 1503-1548 [obverse]

1528

Matthes Gebel

Associated Names
Matthes Gebel

Artist, German, c. 1500 - 1574

The sculpture depicts a portrait of a man in profile, facing to the right. He is wearing an intricately detailed garment with floral patterns. The man's hair is styled in a bowl cut. The sculpture is cast in a brownish bronze material. Around the edge of the round sculpture, there is an inscription in a capitalized font. The relief format allows the detailed features of the man’s facial profile and clothing to be highlighted against the smooth rest of the material. The size and angle of the sculpture suggest that it is a medal or medallion designed to be viewed closely by an observer.

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 4.26 cm (1 11/16 in.)
    gross weight: 24.01 gr (0.053 lb.)
    axis: 6:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1193.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a round, coin-like object with a detailed relief design. The subject is a coat of arms or heraldic emblem, featuring a shield divided into sections with different textures and designs including diagonal lines and a lion. Two intricately carved crests resembling helmets with feathers are above the shield. An inscription in raised text surrounds the periphery. The color is dark bronze and copper tones, likely made of metal. The sculpture has a slightly rough, aged texture, giving it an antique look.

Shield with Casques and Crests [reverse]

Matthes Gebel

1528

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. 597.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 148, no. 12.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 719, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: PHILIPPVS CO[mes] PA[latinus] RHE[ni] DVX BAIO[ariae] ZC [etc.] NA[tus] AN[nos] XXV

Wikidata ID

Q63854742

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