Read the visual description
The image shows a detailed embossed profile of a person on a medallion or coin. The figure is depicted from the shoulders up, facing to the right in a side profile. The person has distinct facial features, including a straight nose, tightly curled hair gathered back and styled, and wears an elaborate garment with textured folds and decorative elements. They also have a detailed necklace with round beads or pearls around their neck. The background is the smooth surface of the medallion, with embossed writing around the edges. The entire piece is in varying shades of bronze with some patina effects, and the surrounding area is dark to highlight the medallion.
National Gallery of Art · Sculpture
Barbara Borromeo, died 1572, Wife of Camillo Gonzaga 1555 [obverse]
Attributed to Pier Paolo Galeotti
- Date
- 1555
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- overall (diameter): 4.91 cm (1 15/16 in.) gross weight: 31.62 gr (0.07 lb.) axis: 12:00
- Classification
- Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
- Accession number
- 1957.14.1081.a
- Credit line
- Samuel H. Kress Collection
- Time span
- 1551 to 1600
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Florentine
- Renaissance
- Medals
- bust facing right
- portrait
- Borromeo, Barbara
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: BARBARA GONZ[aga] BORR[omea] COM[itissa] NOVELL[arae] ANN[orum] XVII
NGA object ID 45183. 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.