Georg Hermann, 1491-1552, German Philospher [obverse]

1529

Matthes Gebel

Associated Names
Matthes Gebel

Artist, German, c. 1500 - 1574

The sculpture depicts a man in profile view, facing to the right. He has a beard and mustache, and is wearing a textured hat and detailed garments with a high collar and patterns. The sculpture is metallic silver in color and appears to be made of metal. The man is surrounded by inscriptions and the background is smooth.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    lead

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 3.81 cm (1 1/2 in.)
    gross weight: 20.52 gr (0.045 lb.)
    axis: 6:00

  • Accession Number

    1957.14.1296.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture features a round medallion with a central candle on a candlestick, with wax dripped down its sides towards the top center. The medallion has the inscription "FUNGERO CONSVMOR" in the middle, decorative elements including a sculpted heart and a winged staff near the bottom, and a laurel wreath border around the edges. The sculpture is crafted from a metallic material, likely silver, with a shiny, reflective surface and a muted gray color. It appears small and finely detailed, resembling a historic coin or medallion with intricate engravings.

Shields and Helm [reverse]

Matthes Gebel

1529


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. 597b.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 2:no. 721, repro.

Inscriptions

around circumference: GIORGIVS HERMAN AETATIS SVAE AN XXXVIII

Wikidata ID

Q63854761

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