Christ and Nicodemus
c. 1550
Medium
bronze//Medium red-brown patina
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 5.3 cm (2 1/16 in.) gross weight: 19 gr
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1957.14.571
Art Historical Context
"Christ and Nicodemus," created around 1550 by the artist known as Master P.G., is a small bronze sculpture measuring just 5.3 centimeters in diameter. The work depicts the intimate nighttime conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee Nicodemus, drawn from the Gospel of John. Its compact size and red-brown patina suggest it was designed as a portable devotional object or collector’s medal, typical of Renaissance metalwork intended for personal contemplation. In the mid-16th century, such bronze pieces allowed patrons to carry sacred narratives in their daily lives. Master P.G.’s technique de...