Saint John the Baptist

Saint John the Baptist by North Italian 16th Century

Medium

bronze//Medium brown patina

Dimensions

overall (diameter): 5.9 cm (2 5/16 in.) gross weight: 49 gr

Classification

Sculpture

Department

CSD

Museum

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Credit

Samuel H. Kress Collection

Accession Number

1957.14.407

Art Historical Context

This delicate bronze relief of Saint John the Baptist, created in northern Italy around 1500, captures the saint in a moment of quiet contemplation. Measuring just under six centimeters in diameter, the small circular form suggests it may have served as a devotional medallion or plaquette, easily carried or displayed in a private setting. The medium-brown patina that now graces its surface speaks to centuries of handling and appreciation, highlighting the enduring appeal of bronze as a material that ages gracefully while preserving fine details. During the early Renaissance, northern Italian ...

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