Inkwell in the Form of a Frog beside a Tree Stump

Probably Paduan 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture features a frog with an open mouth next to a small tree stump. Crafted from bronze, it has a dark brown, near-black color with a smooth, metallic sheen. The frog is positioned with splayed front legs and its rear legs tucked under its body. The tree stump next to the frog has holes and a textured surface. The sculpture's life-like size and the frog's posture offer a lively depiction of the creature.