Inkwell in the Form of a Child Carrying a Shell

Workshop of Severo da Ravenna

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture depicts a small figure of a boy holding a billowing sail or large piece of cloth above his head with both hands. The boy is captured in a dynamic pose, with his weight shifted to one leg. The sculpture is crafted from bronze with a dark, metallic finish and hints of reddish-brown patina visible around the textures. It stands on a polished black pedestal. The overall appearance of the sculpture provides an impression of a moment captured in motion, offering a lifelike representation in a small-scale format.