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The sculpture is a depiction of a sphinx, featuring a human head and a lion's body. It is made of dark metal, likely bronze, with a green patina suggesting age. The sculpture is shown in profile, with wings folded against its body and a serene human-like face with distinct features. The wings and lion's body are intricately detailed.
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The sculpture is a depiction of a sphinx, featuring a human head and a lion's body. It is made of dark metal, likely bronze, with a green patina suggesting age. The sculpture is shown in profile, with wings folded against its body and a serene human-like face with distinct features. The wings and lion's body are intricately detailed.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

A Sphinx to Left

Florentine 15th Century

Date
15th century
Medium
bronze//Dark red-brown patina
Dimensions
overall (silhouetted contour): 591.5 x 580 cm (232 7/8 x 228 3/8 in.) gross weight: 44 gr
Classification
Sculpture · Applique
Accession number
1957.14.146
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1300 to 1400
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Florentine
  • fantasy
  • animal
  • Renaissance
  • Renaissance Plaquettes
  • Sphinx
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 43866. 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.