Hermaphrodite and Three Cupids

Art Historical Context

This exquisite small bronze relief, created by an anonymous Florentine artist in the 15th century, captures a mythological scene featuring Hermaphrodite—the dual-gendered figure from Ovid’s *Metamorphoses*—surrounded by three playful cupids. Measuring just over an inch across with a rich dark brown patina, the oval plaquette exemplifies the Renaissance revival of classical themes. Florentine sculptors of this period drew heavily on ancient Roman and Greek sources, blending them with humanist ideals to explore beauty, transformation, and the natural world. Bronze plaquettes like this one were highly prized during the Italian Renaissance as portable works of art. They allowed collectors to appreciate intricate narrative scenes in miniature form, often displayed in cabinets or incorporated into furnishings. The artist’s skillful modeling of the figures in low relief demonstrates the technical mastery of Florentine workshops, where casting techniques reached new heights of refinement. Housed in the National Gallery of Art as part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection, this delicate piece reflects the era’s fascination with mythology as a vehicle for contemplating human identity and desire. Its intimate scale invites close viewing, revealing the tender interplay between the central figure and the surrounding cupids.