Cavalry Battle between the Hungarians and the Turks [reverse]

Art Historical Context

This finely wrought bronze plaquette, titled *Cry Battle between the Hung and the Turks* (reverse), is a from late 15th Florence. Measuring a modest 5.24 cm in diameter and weighing 57.52 grams, it exemplifies the Renaissance fascination with small-scale sculpture. Produced by an anonymous Florentine, these portable bronze reliefs—often called plaquettes—were highly collectible, serving as affordable yet sophisticated art objects for scholars and patrons. The scene vividly depicts a chaotic cavalry clash between Hungarian and Turkish forces, evoking the real tensions of the time as the Ottoman Empire expanded into Eastern Europe. Florentine workshops excelled in such historical vignettes, blending classical antiquity's heroic battles with contemporary events to celebrate martial valor. The 6:00 axis orientation, standard for medals, underscores its design as a reversible piece, likely paired with an obverse portrait or emblem. Crafted through intricate lost-wax casting—a hallmark of Florentine bronze technique—the plaquette's dynamic figures and fluid motion reveal masterful relief work on a tiny scale. Acquired through the Samuel H. Kress Collection and housed in the National Gallery of Art's Sculpture Department, it invites visitors to ponder the era's blend of artistry and geopolitics.