Giovanni Bologna

Bologna, Giovanni da
Boulogne, Jean
Giambologna

Flemish, 1529 - 1608

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A nude, muscular man with wings on his ankles balances on the toes of one foot as the other leg and one arm raise up, creating a spiral that moves from the toes of his weight-bearing foot to the top of his opposite, raised hand in this freestanding bronze sculpture. In this photograph, his body is angled to our left and he looks off over his right shoulder, farther from us, so we see his face in profile. He wears a smooth, dish-like helmet with wings to each side over short, curly hair. He has a long, straight nose, and his lips are parted. His right arm, farther from us, reaches high into the air with his index finger pointing upward. He holds a scepter tucked near his side with his other hand, closer to us. The staff is as tall as the man’s torso, and has two snakes entwined up its length with wings at the top. His right leg is raised behind him as he leans a bit forward over the other toes, which balance on a narrow wedge. The wedge is held in the mouth of a human head tipped back so it rests on the disk-like base.
Anonymous Artist, Mercury, c. 1780/c. 1850, bronze, Andrew W. Mellon Collection, 1937.1.131

Mercury

Anonymous Artist · c. 1780/c. 1850 · bronze ·  Accession ID  1937.1.131

The sculpture depicts the Crucifixion, with a figurine of Jesus Christ on a cross. The figure of Christ is made of bronze with intricate detailing. The cross is dark in color and has colorful circular ornaments. The base of the sculpture is decorated with scroll-like accents and circular insets.
Giovanni Bologna, Christ Crucified, probably before 1588, bronze, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. John R. Gaines in memory of Clarence F. and Amelia R. Gaines, and Gloria Gaines, and in Honor of the 50th Anniversary of the National Gallery of Art, 1991.16.1

Christ Crucified

Giovanni Bologna · probably before 1588 · bronze ·  Accession ID  1991.16.1

The sculpture depicts a man in historical clothing, leaning forward with one foot advanced. He is holding a large, conical object in one hand and gesturing with the other. The sculpture is made of dark brown material, possibly bronze, and shows intricate details such as clothing folds and a focused expression on the man's face.
Giovanni Bologna, Birdcatcher or Fowler, late 16th century, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.25

Birdcatcher or Fowler

Giovanni Bologna · late 16th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.25

The sculpture depicts a lion, walking or standing with its right side facing the viewer. The lion is portrayed in a naturalistic manner, capturing muscular details and the flowing mane that characterizes the animal. The sculpture is made from a dark brown material, likely bronze, which gives it a rich and polished appearance. Against the neutral background, the lion looks life-like in terms of its detailed anatomical proportions and texture, especially in the mane and body muscles.
Giovanni Francesco Susini, Lion, second quarter 17th century, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.33

Lion

Giovanni Francesco Susini · second quarter 17th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.33

The sculpture depicts a standing male figure. He is shown in a dynamic pose, with one leg forward and holding a dagger in one hand while the other hand is outstretched with fingers spread. The figure is nude, except for a covering over the groin area. He has curly hair and a full beard, with well-defined musculature. The sculpture is made of a metallic material with a bronze finish, giving it a golden-brown color. It stands on a dark, square pedestal, elevating it slightly above eye level. The figure's anatomical features and proportions are detailed and realistic, reminiscent of classical sculpture styles.
Giovanni Francesco Susini, Mars, second quarter 17th century, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.34

Mars

Giovanni Francesco Susini · second quarter 17th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.34

Florentine 17th Century, Hercules and Lichas, first half 17th century, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.35

Hercules and Lichas

Florentine 17th Century · first half 17th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.35

The sculpture in the image shows three human figures interacting with each other. The central figure, a woman, is being lifted by a male figure below her, who is standing on a crouched third male figure. The woman reaches upwards with one arm extended high, looking upwards. All three figures are nude, displaying muscular physiques and dynamic poses. The sculpture appears to be made of a material resembling stone or marble, with a smooth texture and uniform light brown color. The composition is captured from a slightly elevated angle, highlighting the intertwined forms of the figures, suggesting motion and tension.
Andrea Andreani, The Rape of a Sabine, 1584, chiaroscuro woodcut in light brown-green, Print Purchase Fund (Rosenwald Collection), 1980.14.4

The Rape of a Sabine

Andrea Andreani · 1584 · chiaroscuro woodcut in light brown-green ·  Accession ID  1980.14.4

The sculpture depicts two human figures: one reclining and the other kneeling beside the first. The reclining figure is lying on a chaise-like structure with an arm raised behind their head. The kneeling figure is positioned beside the reclined figure, with one hand on the seated individual's abdomen and the other arm raised. Both figures are nude, highlighting the intricate detail of their musculature and posture. The sculpture is made of a dark bronze material, giving it a rich coloration with highlights. This intimate scene is captured in a small-scale composition, evident from the detailed features of the anatomically accurate figures. The medium and finish give the piece a smooth texture.
Antonio Susini, Sleeping Nymph with Satyr, late 16th or early 17th century, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.32

Sleeping Nymph with Satyr

Antonio Susini · late 16th or early 17th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.32

The sculpture portrays a horse rearing up on its hind legs. It is made from a dark brown polished material, possibly bronze. The horse is detailed with defined muscles and a textured mane and tail, adding a sense of movement. The sculpture captures the horse in a pose with its front legs raised and its head turned. Its surface reflects light, enhancing its form. The size of the sculpture suggests it could be meant for display indoors.
Antonio Susini, Rearing Stallion, late 16th or early 17th century, bronze, Gift of Robert H. Smith/Robert H. Smith Collection, 2022.181.27

Rearing Stallion

Antonio Susini · late 16th or early 17th century · bronze ·  Accession ID  2022.181.27

A nearly nude woman wrings out her long hair as a young boy peeks around one hip in this free-standing bronze fountain. In this photograph, the woman's hips and shoulders are squared toward us. Her face turns to our left, and she looks down in that direction so we see her in profile. She gathers her curly hair in a long tress and wrings it with both hands. Her right leg, to our left, is straight, and her other knee is bent so that foot rests on a stylized fish. Cloth drapes over the top of the bent thigh to cover her groin and falls between her legs to her ankles. The fish faces us with its mouth open and two canine-like teeth flanking a hole where water would have spouted. The child gazes around her left hip, to our right, so his eyes, snub nose, and one round cheek angle into view. He has a pile of short curls atop his head, and he holds out a conch shell with one hand. His feet straddle the woman’s in a wider stance so his left foot, to our right, rests with hers over the fish. The patina of the sculpture's polished bronze surface has turned minty green in some areas, especially on the back of the woman’s head, her arms, hands, along her left side, over the bent thigh, and the shell the boy holds. Other areas are darker gray. The pair stand on a piece of flat metal, which is on an off-white, stone pedestal against a light gray background.
Italian 16th Century, Venus and Cupid, c. 1575/1580, bronze, Gift of John and Henrietta Goelet, in memory of Thomas Goelet, and Patrons' Permanent Fund, 1991.242.1

Venus and Cupid

Italian 16th Century · c. 1575/1580 · bronze ·  Accession ID  1991.242.1