
Costume Ornament with Profile Portrait
North Italian 14th Century · Italian
c. 1380/1400
- Medium
- repoussé silver, gilded, and translucent enamel, attached to a strip of velvet
- Classification
- Decorative Art
- Period
- 1300 to 1400
- Image size
- 2001 × 2034px
Description
The sculpture is a circular gilded relief with a raised design featuring a profile portrait of a human head at its center. This central image is illustrated in vibrant shades of blue and green, depicting a person's head in profile with short hair, within a quatrefoil-shaped frame. The overall sculpture appears to be made of a metal that has been gilded, giving it a rich gold color. The background intricate pattern consists of geometric shapes, including crosses and lozenge forms, all embossed or engraved into the surface, creating a textured, three-dimensional appearance. The outer edge of the sculpture is bordered by a beaded pattern. It appears mounted on a dark background which enhances the golden hue of the metal.
Rights & Source
Open access image from the National Gallery of Art, released under its open access program. Metadata via the NGA Open Data Program (CC0).