The sculpture depicts a medallion featuring a side profile of a woman. She is wearing an elaborate headdress and a garment with rich folds and textures that suggest a high status. The medallion is crafted from a brown-toned material, likely bronze or a similar metal. Embedded around the edge of the medallion is a series of inscriptions in a refined, capitalized font. The woman's profile is detailed, with the headdress extending widely. The overall design and composition may suggest historical significance.
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The sculpture depicts a medallion featuring a side profile of a woman. She is wearing an elaborate headdress and a garment with rich folds and textures that suggest a high status. The medallion is crafted from a brown-toned material, likely bronze or a similar metal. Embedded around the edge of the medallion is a series of inscriptions in a refined, capitalized font. The woman's profile is detailed, with the headdress extending widely. The overall design and composition may suggest historical significance.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Anne of Hungary, died 1547, Wife of Ferdinand I of Austria 1521 [reverse]

German or Austrian 16th Century

Date
1524
Medium
bronze//After-cast
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 6 cm (2 3/8 in.) gross weight: 54.25 gr (0.12 lb.) axis: 11:00
Classification
Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
Accession number
1957.14.1215.b
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1501 to 1550
Department
CSD

Subjects and terms

  • German
  • Renaissance
  • Austrian
  • bust facing left
  • portrait
  • Anna of Hungary
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: EFFIGIES SER enissimae ANNE HV n GA riae REGINE ARCH iducissae AVSTR iae DVCISS ae BVRGV ndiae & COM itissae TYRO lis ; across center: AN n O AETAT[is] / SVE XX

NGA object ID 45411. 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.