Pax with the Man of Sorrows; Lunette with Madonna and Child

late 15th century

Lombard, possibly Brescia, 15th Century

Associated Names
Lombard 15th Century

Artist

The sculpture is a small architectural piece resembling a religious altarpiece or shrine. It features a central engraved image depicting a scene with a figure at the center, flanked by two other figures. Above this scene, within an arched section, there is another engraved image of two more figures. The sculpture is made of metal with a primary color of gold, highlighted with detailed engravings in black. The overall structure includes decorative columns and an elaborate rounded top, framed with intricate motifs. The combination of gold and black enhances the contrast in the engravings, making the figures and details stand out.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    nielloed silver partly gilded

  • Credit Line

    Samuel H. Kress Collection

  • Dimensions

    framed: 16.2 × 12.1 cm (6 3/8 × 4 3/4 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1961.9.181

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Possibly Trivulzio Collection, Milan; (Alessandro Contini Bonacossi, 1878-1955, Rome and Florence); [1] purchased 26 June 1935 by Samuel H. Kress (1863-1955), New York; gift 27 September 1950 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York;[2] gift 1961 to NGA.
[1] The bill of sale included sculptures, maiolicas, furniture, antique velvets, paintings, and enamels, for a total of one hundred objects. Copy in NGA curatorial files. See also The Kress Collection Digital Archive, (https://kress.nga.gov/Detail/acquisitions/ACQ143).
[2] An affidavit of 21 August 1956 by Herbert L. Spencer, executive director, Samuel H. Kress Foundation, states the Trivulzio collection of nielli and enamels were given by Samuel H. Kress to the Foundation on 27 September 1950; original in National Gallery of Art Archives. Secretary and General Counsel Records – Major Donor Files; copy in NGA curatorial files.

Associated Names

Bibliography

2021

  • Aldovini, Laura. I Nielli Trivulzio. Storia, Tecnica, Collezionismo. Milan, 2021: 113, 119 fig. 71, 179, 216, 179, 287, repro.

Wikidata ID

Q63854517

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