Read the visual description
The sculpture is a relief portrait of a woman with a serene expression, depicted in a square format. The woman's head is adorned with neatly styled hair, possibly secured with a cloth or bonnet. Her attire is detailed with folds suggesting a draped garment. The color of the sculpture is a dark bronze or brown, indicating it could be made of a metal, likely bronze. The surface has a slightly aged patina, enhancing the texture of the three-dimensional relief. Inscriptions at the top include the words "RANGONA" and "ROVORELLA," while the name "BEATRIX" appears on the side. The sculpture emphasizes the features of the subject with its high relief and careful detailing in the face and clothing.
National Gallery of Art · Sculpture
Beatrice Roverella, c. 1510-1575, Wife of Paolo Manfroni and Ercole Rangone [obverse]
Italian 16th Century
- Date
- c. 1550
- Medium
- bronze
- Dimensions
- overall (rectangular, maximum height and width): 6.11 × 5.75 cm (2 3/8 × 2 1/4 in.) axis: 9:00
- Classification
- Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
- Accession number
- 1957.14.1093.a
- Credit line
- Samuel H. Kress Collection
- Time span
- 1501 to 1550
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Italian
- Renaissance
- Medals
- bust facing front
- portrait
- Roverella, Beatrice
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
vertical along top edge: BEATRIX RANGONA ROVORELLA
NGA object ID 45203. 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.