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The image shows a round medal featuring two main figures. On the left, there is a larger winged female figure seated, while on the right, there is a smaller winged male child. The female figure is draped in flowing garments and appears to be holding a skull, while the male child is interacting with her. Surrounding them are various symbolic items, including a staff and a tree or branch. The scene is contained within a circular boundary, and there is a small hole at the top of the medal. The sculpture is made from a dark material, resembling bronze, with a patina.
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The image shows a round medal featuring two main figures. On the left, there is a larger winged female figure seated, while on the right, there is a smaller winged male child. The female figure is draped in flowing garments and appears to be holding a skull, while the male child is interacting with her. Surrounding them are various symbolic items, including a staff and a tree or branch. The scene is contained within a circular boundary, and there is a small hole at the top of the medal. The sculpture is made from a dark material, resembling bronze, with a patina.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

An Allegorical Scene (Fame & Eros)

Andrea Briosco, called Riccio

Medium
bronze
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 6.03 cm (2 3/8 in.) overall (diameter to broken edge): 5.7 cm (2 1/4 in.) gross weight: 46.27 gr (0.102 lb.)
Classification
Sculpture · Plaquette
Accession number
1957.14.347
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1401 to 1500
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Paduan
  • Renaissance
  • Renaissance Plaquettes
  • classical
  • allegory
  • Virtue
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

in exergue: F.V.D. (possibly for F[AMA].V[IRTUS].D[UCIT]. or Virtue leads to Fame)

Marks

In obverse field, at 1:00 the stamped inverted collector’s mark B.M. (for Boissel de Monville). Reverse bears earlier-style NGA accession number in red paint.

NGA object ID 44071. 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.