The sculpture is a small, round relief depicting three figures interacting with each other. To the left, there is an elderly figure who appears to be in a seated position on a rock. In the center and right, there is a standing figure with a drapery partially covering the lower body, playing a lyre. A small, winged child figure appears to be engaged with the standing figure, reaching up towards them. Behind the figures, there is a tree. The sculpture is made of bronze, giving it a warm, metallic brown color. The piece is crafted with detailed textures and contours of the figures, showing intricate craftsmanship, with each character distinctly represented within the small circular frame.
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The sculpture is a small, round relief depicting three figures interacting with each other. To the left, there is an elderly figure who appears to be in a seated position on a rock. In the center and right, there is a standing figure with a drapery partially covering the lower body, playing a lyre. A small, winged child figure appears to be engaged with the standing figure, reaching up towards them. Behind the figures, there is a tree. The sculpture is made of bronze, giving it a warm, metallic brown color. The piece is crafted with detailed textures and contours of the figures, showing intricate craftsmanship, with each character distinctly represented within the small circular frame.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Apollo and Marsyas

Roman 15th Century, after the Antique

Date
mid 15th century
Medium
bronze//Medium brown patina
Dimensions
overall (oval): 3.89 x 3.15 cm (1 9/16 x 1 1/4 in.) gross weight: 18.39 gr (0.041 lb.)
Classification
Sculpture · Plaquette
Accession number
1957.14.149
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1401 to 1500
Department
CSD

Subjects and terms

  • Roman
  • classical
  • mythology
  • Renaissance
  • Renaissance Plaquettes
  • Apollo
  • Marsyas
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.

Marks

Reverse bears illegible trace (deteriorated by now-removed adhesive label) of former inventory number in red paint (Dreyfus) and number 25 in yellow paint (Ricci 1931).

NGA object ID 43869. 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.