François I, 1494-1547, King of France 1515 [obverse]

early 16th century

French 16th Century

Associated Names
The sculpture is a round medallion featuring a relief of a bearded man in profile, facing left. This figure appears to be an ancient or classical subject, wearing laurel leaves on his head and draped clothing, suggestive of a toga. The medallion is crafted from metal and has a worn, reddish-brown patina with a varied texture. There is a small circular hole at the top of the medallion. The detailed rendering of the facial features and clothing folds adds depth, creating an impression of an old, weathered artifact.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronzed lead

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 9.11 cm (3 9/16 in.)
    gross weight: 137.18 gr (0.302 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1280.a

Associated Artworks

The image shows a relief sculpture of a person riding a horse on a round disk. The figure is seated on the horse, which is depicted in motion with raised legs. The sculpture is primarily a muted metallic gray color, potentially made of bronze. The figure and horse are detailed in a style consistent with metalwork. The relief emphasizes the figures against a flat background, emphasizing their forms in the circular design of the disk.

François I on Horseback [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

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 616, repro.

Wikidata ID

Q63854393

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