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The sculpture depicts a bearded male figure seated on a large shell. The man holds a musical instrument in front of him, resembling a harp or lyre. The sculpture is crafted from dark bronze, giving it an antique and metallic finish. The figure is nude, with detailed hair and beard. The dimensions of the sculpture suggest it is small in size, suitable for display on a tabletop or shelf. The bronze texture enhances the naturalistic and classical feel of the piece.
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The sculpture depicts a bearded male figure seated on a large shell. The man holds a musical instrument in front of him, resembling a harp or lyre. The sculpture is crafted from dark bronze, giving it an antique and metallic finish. The figure is nude, with detailed hair and beard. The dimensions of the sculpture suggest it is small in size, suitable for display on a tabletop or shelf. The bronze texture enhances the naturalistic and classical feel of the piece.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Arion Seated on a Shell

Attributed to Severo da Ravenna

Date
first quarter 16th century
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
overall: 8.6 x 5.3 x 4.2 cm (3 3/8 x 2 1/16 x 1 5/8 in.)
Classification
Sculpture · Small Bronze
Accession number
1957.14.19
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1401 to 1500
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Paduan
  • classical
  • mythology
  • Renaissance
  • European Small Bronzes before 1900
  • Ravenna
  • Arion
Provenance

Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his estate; purchased 1930 with the entire Dreyfus collection by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London, New York, and New York); sold 1944 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York; gift 1957 to NGA.

NGA object ID 43739. 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.