A prophet

Art Historical Context

This small bronze figure depicts a prophet standing with his weight on one leg, his head slightly bowed. He wears long, deeply folded robes that drape across his body and fall in heavy gathers to the base. In his hands he holds an open book, its pages suggested by the modeling of the surface. The dark bronze has a rich, uneven patina that catches the light on the raised folds of drapery and the textured beard and hair. Created by the Venetian sculptor Tiziano Minio in the mid-sixteenth century, the work reflects the period’s interest in expressive small-scale bronze statuettes. Such pieces were often made as independent objects for private collectors or as studies for larger compositions. The compact size and lively handling of the drapery invite close viewing, allowing the subtle play of light across the metal to bring the figure to life. Now in the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, this bronze was given by Duveen Brothers in 1918 and remains a fine example of Venetian Renaissance sculpture in miniature.