Giovanni Bentivoglio Mounted on a Horse [reverse]

c. 1478/1482

Sperandio

Associated Names
Sperandio

Artist, Mantuan, c. 1425/1428 - c. 1504

The sculpture depicts a knight on horseback holding a lance. The knight is armored and appears to be in battle. The piece is made of a bronze-like material, giving it a dark metallic color. The details of the horse and knight are raised against a flat background, possibly indicating it is a medallion or plaque. The edge of the piece has an inscription with partially legible text. The overall relief is antique-looking, with intricate carvings and a classic appearance rendered by the bronze color.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 7.88 cm (3 1/8 in.)
    gross weight: 162.58 gr (0.358 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1286.b

Associated Artworks

The sculpture is a round medallion featuring a profile portrait of a man wearing a cap. The man is depicted with distinctive facial features and stylized hair that falls down the sides of his face. He appears to be wearing a garment with a textured collar. The sculpture is made from a dark metal material, possibly bronze, with a warm brownish hue and some lighter highlights on raised areas. The medallion includes an inscription that runs around the edge in a serif font. The design on the medallion gives it an appearance similar to a historical coin or commemorative piece, with a classical profile associated with ancient or Renaissance art styles.

Giovanni II Bentivoglio, 1443-1508, Lord of Bologna 1463-1506 [obverse]

Sperandio

1478

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: 1:no. 95, repro.

Inscriptions

around top circumference: OPVS SPERANDEI

Wikidata ID

Q63854803

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