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The sculpture portrays the face of a cherubic figure with rounded cheeks and a subtle smile. The face is framed by a circular design featuring a leaf and flower pattern. The sculpture is primarily golden with darker patches underneath. The surface texture is uneven, emphasizing its three-dimensional quality. The proportions of the face are slightly exaggerated, giving it a mythical appearance.
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The sculpture portrays the face of a cherubic figure with rounded cheeks and a subtle smile. The face is framed by a circular design featuring a leaf and flower pattern. The sculpture is primarily golden with darker patches underneath. The surface texture is uneven, emphasizing its three-dimensional quality. The proportions of the face are slightly exaggerated, giving it a mythical appearance.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

A Child's Head

Italian 17th Century

Date
17th century
Medium
repoussé copper with extensive traces of gilding
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 20.8 cm (8 3/16 in.)
Classification
Sculpture · Plaquette
Accession number
1957.14.59
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1551 to 1600
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Italian
  • Head
  • Renaissance
  • child
  • portrait
  • European Small Bronzes before 1900
Provenance

Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his estate; purchased 1930 with the entire Dreyfus collection by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London and New York); purchased 1945 by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York; gift 1957 to NGA.

NGA object ID 43779. 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.