The sculpture depicts two male figures, both nude. One figure is standing and the other is sitting. The standing figure is on the left, leaning against a tree or post with one hand behind them. The standing figure's body is relaxed with crossed legs. The seated figure on the right appears older with a bearded face. The seated figure holds a stick or staff and seems to be in conversation with or gesturing to the standing figure. In the background, there are architectural and landscape elements including an arch and what looks like a broken column. The sculpture is made of bronze, with a dark brown color and a slight greenish patina in some areas. The relief is shallow, giving a carved, three-dimensional appearance.
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The sculpture depicts two male figures, both nude. One figure is standing and the other is sitting. The standing figure is on the left, leaning against a tree or post with one hand behind them. The standing figure's body is relaxed with crossed legs. The seated figure on the right appears older with a bearded face. The seated figure holds a stick or staff and seems to be in conversation with or gesturing to the standing figure. In the background, there are architectural and landscape elements including an arch and what looks like a broken column. The sculpture is made of bronze, with a dark brown color and a slight greenish patina in some areas. The relief is shallow, giving a carved, three-dimensional appearance.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Allegorical Scene

Ulocrino

Date
early 16th century
Medium
bronze//Dark brown patina
Dimensions
overall: 6.67 × 4.73 cm (2 5/8 × 1 7/8 in.) gross weight: 67.16 gr (0.148 lb.)
Classification
Sculpture · Plaquette
Accession number
1957.14.276
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1401 to 1500
Department
CSD

Subjects and terms

  • Venetian
  • allegory
  • Paduan
  • Renaissance
  • Renaissance Plaquettes
  • Musical instrument
  • Youth
  • Bearded man
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.

Inscription

upper right, almost completely erased by burnishing: VLOCRINO

Marks

At obverse bottom center, stamped collector’s mark BM (Boissel de Monville, sale, 1861). Reverse bears illegible traces of former inventory number(?) in black ink, which was partially removed in 1982 cleaning, but no record of former marks exists in NGA curatorial files.

NGA object ID 44000. 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.