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The sculpture is a profile representation of a historical female figure, depicted in relief on one side of a circular medal or medallion. She has intricate hairstyles, with elaborate curls and a decorative band around the top of her head. The sculpture is crafted from a material that appears to be bronze or a similar metal, characterized by its brownish hue and metallic sheen. The medallion includes detailed engravings enhancing the subject's clothing, which features ornate patterns and textures resembling lace or embroidery. Inscriptions in a circular manner along the edge of the medal provide context to the figure, with "ANNA.AUSTRIACA.FRANC.ET.NAVAR.REGINA" clearly visible. The piece has a small, circular hole at the top.
National Gallery of Art · Sculpture
Anne of Austria, 1601-1666, Wife of King Louis XIII of France 1615 [obverse]
Jean Darmand, called Lorfelin
- Date
- 1642
- Medium
- bronze//With loop
- Dimensions
- overall (height with suspension loop): 5.95 cm (2 5/16 in.) overall (diameter without loop): 5.16 cm (2 1/16 in.) gross weight: 21.49 gr (0.047 lb.) axis: 12:00
- Classification
- Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
- Accession number
- 1957.14.1170.a
- Credit line
- Samuel H. Kress Collection
- Time span
- 1601 to 1650
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Baroque
- French
- Medals
- bust facing right
- portrait
- Anne of Austria
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: ANNA AVSTRIACA FRANC[iae] ET NAVAR[ae] REGINA; lower left on truncation: LORFELIN F[ecit]
NGA object ID 45333. 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.