Paul III (Alessandro Farnese, 1468-1549), Pope 1534

19th/20th century

Probably Neapolitan 19th/20th Century

Associated Names
Neapolitan 19th/20th Century

Sculptor

The sculpture depicts a male figure with a somber expression, detailed facial features, and a long, flowing beard. The subject is dressed in an intricately designed garment with elaborate patterns and figures. The sculpture is crafted from a dark brown bronze material, which adds depth and texture to its fine details. The figure's head and chest are prominently featured, making the sculpture a bust, and it is mounted on a decorative pedestal. The craftsmanship and details such as textured hair and expressive eyes make the sculpture lifelike and visually engaging.
Skip thumbnail navigation
Back to thumbnail navigation
This object’s media is not available for download. Contact us about image usage.
Not on view See artworks now on view

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Gift of Asbjorn R. Lunde

  • Dimensions

    overall: 29.9 x 21 x 15.7 cm (11 3/4 x 8 1/4 x 6 3/16 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1975.6.1

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Purchased 1964 in Toronto by Asbjorn R. Lunde [1927-2017], New York;[1] gift 1975 to NGA.
[1] In a letter to the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg of 7 August 1964 (copy in NGA curatorial files), Mr Lunde writes that he had "recently purchased a small bronze bust of Pope Paul III, apparently dating from the Sixteenth Century. I found the bronze in Toronto and the dealer stated that it had once belonged to the collection of a German admiral by the name of Nietzke (the name may not be correctly spelled) who had had the bronze as early as about 1870."

Associated Names

Bibliography

1993

  • Barbour, Daphne, and Lisha Deming Glinsman. “An Investigation of Renaissance Casting Practices as a Means for Identifying Forgeries.” Conservation Research. Studies in the History of Art. 41 (Monograph series II, 1993): 15-29, repro.

1994

  • Sculpture: An Illustrated Catalogue. National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1994: 157, repro.

Inscriptions

on base, front: PAOLO / III / FARNESE

Wikidata ID

Q63854789

You may be interested in

Loading Results