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The sculpture depicts a profile portrait of an individual wearing elaborate papal attire, including a detailed papal tiara. The figure faces to the left in a circular medal form. The top of the sculpture features the inscription "BENEDICTVS XIII." The material seems to be a bronze or bronze-like alloy, giving it a brownish-copper appearance with darker accents. The edges of the medal have an inscribed border. The piece is intricately detailed, with the texture and pattern of the papal garments meticulously rendered.
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The sculpture depicts a profile portrait of an individual wearing elaborate papal attire, including a detailed papal tiara. The figure faces to the left in a circular medal form. The top of the sculpture features the inscription "BENEDICTVS XIII." The material seems to be a bronze or bronze-like alloy, giving it a brownish-copper appearance with darker accents. The edges of the medal have an inscribed border. The piece is intricately detailed, with the texture and pattern of the papal garments meticulously rendered.

National Gallery of Art · Sculpture

Benedict XIII (Piero Francesco Orsini, 1649-1730), Pope 1724 [obverse]

Ermenegildo Hamerani

Date
1724
Medium
bronze
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 4.2 cm (1 5/8 in.) gross weight: 33.77 gr (0.034 kg) axis: 12:00
Classification
Sculpture · Medal/Medallion
Accession number
1995.49.14.a
Credit line
Gift of Mark Wilchusky in honor of Douglas Lewis and Sir John Pope-Hennessy
Time span
1701 to 1725
Department
CSD
Original NGA record Wikidata

Subjects and terms

  • Baroque
  • Roman
  • Medals
  • struck
  • bust facing left
  • portrait
  • Benedict XIII, Pope
Provenance

(Paul Bosco, New York); purchased 1993 by Mark Wilchusky, New York; gift 1995 to NGA.[1] [1] Provenance from curator's acquisition proposal.

Inscription

around circumference: BENEDICTVS.XIII.P.M.AN.IVBIL. (Benedict XIII, Supreme Pontiff, in the Year of the Jubilee); below truncation: HAMERANVS F. (Hamerani made this)

NGA object ID 93406. 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.