Saint John the Baptist
c. 1500
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 ...