Read the visual description
The sculpture is a bas-relief medallion depicting the profile of a man's head. The man has curly hair and is facing left. His profile shows distinct features such as a pronounced nose and chin. Surrounding the profile are engraved inscriptions that read "PISANVS" on the left and "PICTOR" on the right. The medallion is circular and appears to be made of bronze. The surface of the sculpture shows signs of weathering, with some areas having a patina. The edge of the medallion is decorated with a repeated dotted pattern, framing the central image and inscriptions.
National Gallery of Art · Sculpture
Antonio Pisano, called Pisanello, the Painter and Medallist
Nicholaus
- Date
- c. 1445/1450
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- overall (diameter): 3.38 cm (1 5/16 in.) gross weight: 28.15 gr (0.062 lb.)
- Classification
- Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
- Accession number
- 1957.14.622
- Credit line
- Samuel H. Kress Collection
- Time span
- 1401 to 1500
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Renaissance
- Medals
- bust facing left
- portrait
- Painter
- Ferrarese
- Medallist
- Pisanello
Provenance
Gustave Dreyfus [1837-1914], Paris; his heirs; purchased with the entire Dreyfus collection 9 July 1930 by (Duveen Brothers, Inc., London, New York, and Paris); sold 31 January 1944 to the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, New York;[1] gift 1957 to NGA. [1] The Duveen Brothers Records document the firm’s sixteen year pursuit and eventual acquisition of the Dreyfus collection, which included paintings, sculptures, small bronzes, medals, and plaquettes. Bequeathed as part of his estate to Dreyfus’ widow and five children (a son and four daughters), who had differing opinions about its disposition, the collection was not sold until after his widow’s death in April 1929. Duveen did not wish to separate Dreyfus’ collection of small bronzes, medals, and plaquettes, and it was sold intact to the Kress Foundation for a price that was met by installment payments every three months. (Duveen Brothers Records, accession number 960015, Research Library, The Getty Research Institute, Los Angeles: reel 301, box 446, folders 3 and 4; reel 302, box 447, folders 1-6; reel 303, box 448, folders 1 and 2; reel 330, box 475, folder 4.) See also George Francis Hill’s discussion "A Note on Pedigrees" in his catalogue, _The Gustave Dreyfus Collection: Renaissance Medals_, Oxford, 1931: xii, which was commissioned by Duveen Brothers.
Inscription
around circumference: PISANVS PICTOR
NGA object ID 44371. 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.