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The sculpture shows a male figure depicted in a three-dimensional relief style on a rectangular plaque. The figure is a nude man standing in a contrapposto pose with his right arm raised, holding a branch. He has curly hair. Surrounding him are various objects including a lyre, musical notes, a shield, and an anvil with flames. The sculpture is made of a dark, bronze-like metal that highlights the details. The composition appears to convey a story or legend with its detailed workmanship and classical motifs.
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The sculpture shows a male figure depicted in a three-dimensional relief style on a rectangular plaque. The figure is a nude man standing in a contrapposto pose with his right arm raised, holding a branch. He has curly hair. Surrounding him are various objects including a lyre, musical notes, a shield, and an anvil with flames. The sculpture is made of a dark, bronze-like metal that highlights the details. The composition appears to convey a story or legend with its detailed workmanship and classical motifs.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Allegory of Music

Probably Venetian 16th Century

Date
c. 1500
Medium
bronze//Medium brown patina
Dimensions
overall: 11.5 x 7.1 cm (4 1/2 x 2 13/16 in.) gross weight: 158 gr
Classification
Sculpture · Plaquette
Accession number
1957.14.449
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1401 to 1500
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Venetian
  • Renaissance
  • Renaissance Plaquettes
  • Music
  • arts and sciences
  • allegory
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 44166. 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.