Baldassare Castiglione, 1478-1529, Author of "The Courtier" [obverse]

Italian 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

The relief sculpture depicts a man in profile, facing to the right. The figure has a full beard and wavy hair. The sculpture is made of bronze, with a metallic appearance and brownish color and golden highlights. It is shaped like a circular medallion with the inscription "BALTHASAR CASTILION CRE." around the figure's head. The surface is textured, and the medallion has a beaded border along the edge. There is a small hole at the top of the medallion.