Bronze and Boxwood: Masterpieces from the Robert H. Smith Collection

The exhibition presents exquisite bronze sculpture in context with outstanding boxwood and ivory carvings, more than one dozen of which are recent additions to the Robert H. Smith collection. Among the masterpieces on display are the newly acquired and superb early cast of Giambologna's Cesarini ... Read more

The exhibition presents exquisite bronze sculpture in context with outstanding boxwood and ivory carvings, more than one dozen of which are recent additions to the Robert H. Smith collection. Among the masterpieces on display are the newly acquired and superb early cast of Giambologna’s Cesarini Venus (late 16th or early 17th century) and the finest and earliest version of Giambologna’s famous Birdcatcher (late 16th century). Also on view is Seated Nymph (1503), perhaps the most exquisite of all the bronzes made in the early 16th century by the celebrated goldsmith and sculptor Antico, and Gianfrancesco Susini’s David with the Head of Goliath (c. 1625√¢‚Ǩ‚Äú1630). Most of the eight boxwood and ivory carvings were made by the great German sculptor Leonhard Kern (1588√¢‚Ǩ‚Äú1662). The boxwood figures relate to the bronzes in color, composition, and style, and sometimes were inspired by them, providing points of comparison and creating a stimulating contrast with the other works in the show. The last time the Robert H. Smith collection of Renaissance bronze statuettes was exhibited at the National Gallery of Art was in 2002.