ORThe Open Room
Digital gallery
Back to the NGA collection
The sculpture depicts a toad lying on its back with a smaller toad on top, both made of bronze. The sculpture has a dark metallic hue with reflective surfaces showcasing the texture. The toads' skin appears bumpy, typical of the amphibians. The sculpture seems small and detailed, meant for close viewing. The toads' positioning suggests a lifelike moment.
Read the visual description

The sculpture depicts a toad lying on its back with a smaller toad on top, both made of bronze. The sculpture has a dark metallic hue with reflective surfaces showcasing the texture. The toads' skin appears bumpy, typical of the amphibians. The sculpture seems small and detailed, meant for close viewing. The toads' positioning suggests a lifelike moment.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

A Toad with a Toad

Paduan 16th Century

Date
early 16th century
Medium
bronze//Medium brown patina
Dimensions
overall: 6 x 13.1 x 8.6 cm (2 3/8 x 5 3/16 x 3 3/8 in.)
Classification
Sculpture · Small Bronze
Accession number
1957.14.88
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1401 to 1500
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Paduan
  • Renaissance
  • European Small Bronzes before 1900
  • amphibian
  • animal
  • Toad
Provenance

Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his estate; purchased 1930 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 43808. 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.