Read the visual description
The sculpture depicted on this round object features a scene with a winged horse and a chariot rider prominently. The winged horse is mid-gallop, showcasing its powerful limbs and wings spread as if in flight. The rider is captured with flowing garments and is holding what appears to be a staff or torch, indicating movement. Surrounding the central figures are intricate clouds and elements that suggest a sky or celestial scene. The sculpture is colored in a rich bronze, indicative of metal, giving the object an antique appearance. A raised, beaded border encircles the rim, adding to the ornate detail, and text in a classical font girds the top edge.
National Gallery of Art · Sculpture
Aurora Riding through the Heavens [reverse]
Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo
- Date
- 1552
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- overall (diameter): 6.93 cm (2 3/4 in.) gross weight: 97.64 gr (0.215 lb.) axis: 12:00
- Classification
- Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
- Accession number
- 1957.14.1031.b
- Credit line
- Samuel H. Kress Collection
- Time span
- 1551 to 1600
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Aurora
- classical
- mythology
- Renaissance
- Milanese
Provenance
Charles Armand Signol [d. 1875], Paris; (his estate sale, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, 1-3 April 1878, 3rd day, no. 214); 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 top circumference: VIRTVTIS FORMAEQ[ue] PRAEVIA
NGA object ID 45110. 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.