The sculpture is a profile portrait of a man identified as Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu. He is depicted wearing clerical attire, including a cap and a cape with intricate folds. The material appears to be a bronze or copper alloy, indicated by its warm color and metallic sheen. The sculpture is in the form of a medal with a circular shape and a raised border with small bead-like embellishments. The relief sculpture shows the man's side profile with detailed facial features such as his beard and hair curls. An inscription surrounds the bust, adding to its historical significance. The sculpture is small in scale and likely intended for close viewing as a medallion or commemorative piece.
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The sculpture is a profile portrait of a man identified as Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu. He is depicted wearing clerical attire, including a cap and a cape with intricate folds. The material appears to be a bronze or copper alloy, indicated by its warm color and metallic sheen. The sculpture is in the form of a medal with a circular shape and a raised border with small bead-like embellishments. The relief sculpture shows the man's side profile with detailed facial features such as his beard and hair curls. An inscription surrounds the bust, adding to its historical significance. The sculpture is small in scale and likely intended for close viewing as a medallion or commemorative piece.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Armand-Jean du Plessis, 1585-1642, Cardinal de Richelieu 1622

Jean Warin

Date
1630
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 7.86 cm (3 1/8 in.) gross weight: 128.16 gr (0.283 lb.) axis: 12:00
Classification
Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
Accession number
1957.14.10.a
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1601 to 1650
Department
CSD

Subjects and terms

  • Baroque
  • French
  • Medals
  • bust facing right
  • portrait
  • Cardinal de Richelieu
  • Duplessis, Armand-Jean
Provenance

(Numismatic Fine Arts [Dr. Edward Gans], Berkeley); purchased 1957 by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York; gift 1957 to NGA.

Inscription

around circumference: ARMANDVS IOANNES CARDINALIS DE RICHELIEV

NGA object ID 43729. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.