The sculpture depicts a detailed, round antique ship sailing on turbulent waters with the word "DYRATE" inscribed above it. The object appears to be made of a shiny, silver-colored metallic material resembling a coin or medallion, featuring an intricately carved ship with sails, rigging, and waves, all surrounded by a beaded edge. The ship is central to the piece, showcasing careful craftsmanship in its three-dimensional appearance against the flat background.
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The sculpture depicts a detailed, round antique ship sailing on turbulent waters with the word "DYRATE" inscribed above it. The object appears to be made of a shiny, silver-colored metallic material resembling a coin or medallion, featuring an intricately carved ship with sails, rigging, and waves, all surrounded by a beaded edge. The ship is central to the piece, showcasing careful craftsmanship in its three-dimensional appearance against the flat background.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Aeneas in the Storm [reverse]

Giovanni Vincenzo Melone

Date
c. 1571
Medium
silver
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 4.34 cm (1 11/16 in.) gross weight: 28.68 gr (0.063 lb.) axis: 12:00
Classification
Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
Accession number
1957.14.1231.b
Credit line
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Time span
1551 to 1600
Department
CSD

Subjects and terms

  • Italian
  • Ship
  • travel
  • Renaissance
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: DVRATE

NGA object ID 45435. 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.