Read the visual description
The sculpture features a round medallion or coin with a relief image. The scene depicts four human figures, three standing and one seated. The seated figure, positioned to the left, is engaged with the standing figures to the right. The standing figures wear flowing garments, with one holding a cornucopia-like object. The text in relief reads "MATVRA" on the left and "CELERITAS" on the right. The material appears bronze-colored. The medallion is detailed with small circular bead-like features around the border.
National Gallery of Art · Sculpture
A Governor Receiving a Man with a Bridle [reverse]
Antonio Vicentino
- Date
- 1523/1524
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- overall (diameter): 6.76 cm (2 11/16 in.) gross weight: 132.31 gr (0.292 lb.) axis: 6:00
- Classification
- Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
- Accession number
- 1957.14.1064.b
- Credit line
- Samuel H. Kress Collection
- Time span
- 1501 to 1550
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Italian
- allegory
- Renaissance
- Bridle
- Man (seated)
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 top circumference: MATVRA CELERITAS
NGA object ID 45158. 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.