Giovanni Sforza, 1466-1510, Lord of Pesaro [obverse]

15th century

Pesarese 15th Century

Associated Names
Pesarese 15th Century

Artist

The image shows an old coin. It is round, copper-colored with a profile portrait of a bearded figure facing to the right in the center. The coin's surface shows signs of wear. Encircling the central image is a band of capitalized text, which may be an inscription or a name. There are two holes near the coin's edges. The overall appearance suggests historical and numismatic significance.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    copper denaro//Struck

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 1.94 cm (3/4 in.)
    gross weight: 1.67 gr (0.004 lb.)
    axis: 1:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1258.a

Associated Artworks

This is a photograph of an old coin with engraved Latin text. The coin is made of a bronze or copper-like metal with an aged patina and slight wear. The text is engraved in a bold font, with slightly raised letters, and an uneven arrangement. There is a small hole near the edge of the coin.

Inscription [reverse]

Pesarese 15th Century

1400

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. 662.

1983

  • Wilson, Carolyn C. Renaissance Small Bronze Sculpture and Associated Decorative Arts at the National Gallery of Art. Washington, 1983: 45, no. 18.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 797, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: IOANNS SFORTIA PISAVRI P[rinceps]

Wikidata ID

Q63854377

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