Medieval and Renaissance Sculptures and Decorative Arts

On View: West Building, Ground Floor

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453 artworks on view.

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The sculpture is a relief of a man's profile on a round, coin-like medallion. The subject has short, wavy hair and wears an outfit with a high collar. It is made of bronze with inscriptions in Latin surrounding the figure, likely identifying a historical figure. The relief emphasizes the contours of the face, neck, and clothing. There is a small hole near the top edge, suggesting it may have been intended for hanging or display. The texture of the relief gives it a three-dimensional effect against the flat surface of the medallion.

Domenico Novello Malatesta, 1418-1465, Lord of Cesena and Cervia 1429 [obverse]

Pisanello

c. 1445

Bronze  Accession ID  1957.14.607.a

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G16
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This free-standing bronze sculpture shows the rounded, stylized forms of a person with long limbs riding astride a horse with noticeably short legs. The horse and rider are angled to our right in this photograph. The dark brown bronze gleams white where the light catches the smooth surfaces, and some areas are a burnished gold color. The horse looks ahead with large eyes. It has short ears, and its mouth is parted. The person riding the horse holds the reins with the right hand, closer to us. The reins wrap halfway around the horse’s neck and are then broken off. The cleanshaven rider has a heavy brow ridge and a long, straight nose. He wears a flat-topped cap and a robe that reaches to his ankles. The pointed toes of his shoe pokes through the small stirrup we can see. A rounded handle connects the rider’s upper back to the back of the horse. The background is taupe-gray behind the sculpture and darkens at the upper corners.

Aquamanile in the Form of a Horseman

English 13th Century, Scandinavian 13th Century

13th century

Bronze  Accession ID  1942.9.280

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G18
The sculpture depicts a bird crafted from golden metal and decorated with colored enamel. The bird faces the right with its wings tucked in to its body, perched atop a circular base with gold embellishments. The metal bird has detailed blue and green enamel work on its wings and tail.

Pyx in the Form of a Dove

French 13th Century

c. 1220/1230

Gilded copper with enamel  Accession ID  1942.9.284

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G18
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Cecilia Gonzaga, 1426-1451, daughter of Gianfrancesco I [obverse]

Pisanello

1447

Lead  Accession ID  1957.14.609.a

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G16
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The sculpture depicts a profile of a woman facing to the right, with intricate hair under a headdress extending to her shoulders and back. The sculpture is in the form of a medal or medallion made of bronze. The woman is wearing a garment with a noticeable neckline, and her eyes are softly defined. There is an inscription in raised letters with small floral or star-like motifs. The top edge has a small hole, likely for suspension or display.

Isotta degli Atti, 1432/1433-1474, Mistress 1446, then Wife after 1453, of Sigismondo Malatesta [obverse]

Matteo de' Pasti

c. 1450

Bronze  Accession ID  1957.14.651.a

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G16
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The sculpture is a detailed profile of a man with intricately styled hair and a high-collared garment decorated with a floral pattern. It is a circular bronze medal featuring a man's profile with inscriptions along the edge. The bronze material gives the sculpture a brownish-bronze color with an aged patina. The profile captures the man's facial features and hair texture. The medal has a small hole at the top for wearing or display.

Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, 1417-1468, Lord of Rimini and Fano [obverse]

Pisanello

c. 1445

Bronze  Accession ID  1957.14.604.a

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G16
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This is an ornate helmet made of dark metal with gold-colored details. It features intricate designs and patterns throughout, including symmetrical swirling and floral designs, as well as designs on the faceguard that look similar to an animal’s face, including a snarling mouth and eye holes. The lighting emphasizes the embossed and engraved elements of the helmet.

"The Morosini Helmet" (visored burgonet)

Milanese 16th Century

probably 1550/1560

Repoussé and embossed iron or steel, with gilding and silvering  Accession ID  1942.9.356

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G19
This horizontal tapestry is divided into three vertical sections by architectural columns and arches. The center column is a little wider than those to either side, but all three sections are packed with people, all with ivory-white skin. In the center column, a crowned Jesus is seated on a throne at the top center. His elaborately patterned robe falls in folds down past his feet. He hovers above a landscape view, which is flanked in the foreground by groups of men and women. About a dozen people are clustered on each side, many of them looking up at Jesus, and most of them wearing religious garments that range from monks and nuns to cardinals and bishops. Two crowned men kneel to our right in the center panel, their hands pressed together in prayer. Each column on either side of the central panel is divided so there is a smaller vignette above taller vignettes below. Large groups of people gather in each scene. Much of the tapestry’s surface is now brown, but it is punctuated throughout with patches of rust red, sky blue, and pale yellow.

The Triumph of Christ ("The Mazarin Tapestry")

Netherlandish 16th Century

c. 1500

Tapestry: undyed wool warp; dyed wool, silk, and silver-gilt- and silver-wrapped silk weft  Accession ID  1942.9.446

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G19
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John VIII Palaeologus, 1392-1448, Emperor of Constantinople 1425 [obverse]

Pisanello

1438/1439

Lead//trial cast, possibly  Accession ID  1957.14.593.a

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G16
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The sculpture is a round medallion featuring a raised depiction of an elephant as its centerpiece. The elephant is portrayed with its trunk pointed upwards, large ears, and sturdy legs. The piece is crafted from bronze, giving it a reddish-brown color. The flat medallion has engravings of the elephant and surrounding surface, including text around the perimeter. A small hole is present near the edge of the medallion. The sculpture showcases detailed texture and posture of the elephant, offering a sense of dimensionality to the flat medium.

The Malatesta Elephant in a Meadow [reverse]

Matteo de' Pasti

c. 1450

Bronze  Accession ID  1957.14.651.b

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G16
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The sculpture is a round medallion featuring the profile of a man facing to the left. The subject is depicted wearing a voluminous hat that wraps around the head and extends upward, as well as a garment with a high collar. The medallion is dark brown in color. The surface is slightly reflective. The edges of the medallion are inscribed with text. There is a small hole at the top of the medallion. The medallion appears to be a flat, circular form with a relief of the figure and inscriptions carved into it.

Vittorino de' Rambaldoni da Feltre, 1379-1446, Humanist [obverse]

Pisanello

c. 1446

Bronze  Accession ID  1957.14.610.a

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G16
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The image is a bronze medal featuring the profile of a man facing left. He is depicted from the shoulders up, with a pronounced nose, defined jawline, and visible ear. His hair is short or shaved. The man is wearing a period garment or armor with layered sections on the shoulder. There is Latin text inscribed around the profile. The medal has a small hole near the top for hanging. The background is the medal's surface with no distinct imagery beyond the inscribed text.

Lodovico Gonzaga, 1412-1478, 2nd Marquess of Mantua 1444 [obverse]

Pisanello

c. 1447/1448

Bronze  Accession ID  1957.14.608.a

On View: West Building, Ground Floor, Gallery G16
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