Read the visual description
The sculpture is a profile portrait of a man with long hair and a beard, depicted in relief on a coin. The material of the sculpture appears to be metal, likely silver or a similar alloy, which has a worn, grayish-brown patina. The man's profile shows the contours of his nose, lips, and hair falling to his shoulders in waves. He is dressed in traditional clothing with a decorated neckline. The coin is circular, with an inscription wrapping around the edge. The relief work gives the profile a distinctive appearance against the coin background.
National Gallery of Art · Sculpture
Alfonso I d'Este, 1476-1534, 3rd Duke of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio 1505 [obverse]
Ferrarese 16th Century
- Date
- 16th century
- Medium
- cast of a silver testoon
- Dimensions
- overall (diameter): 2.94 cm (1 3/16 in.) gross weight: 8.23 gr (0.018 lb.) axis: 11:00
- Classification
- Sculpture · Coin
- Accession number
- 1957.14.1254.a
- Credit line
- Samuel H. Kress Collection
- Time span
- 1401 to 1500
- Department
- CSD
Subjects and terms
- Renaissance
- Medals
- bust facing left
- portrait
- Ferrarese
- Este, Alfonso I d'
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: ALFONSVS DVX FER III S[acri] R[omani] E[cclesiae] CONF[alonerius]
NGA object ID 45479. 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.