The Bust of Antonio Galli in the Frick Collection

Abstract

Among the bronzes of the Frick Collection, a large bust of a man (height 23⅝ in.) is particularly attractive for its handsome and pensive face (Figs. 1, 2). The rich dress and the ease with which it is worn show that the person portrayed held a high rank in society, and that this position was by no means newly acquired. His gentleness, concentration, and aloofness show that his occupation was of an intellectual order. The name “Antonius Gallus,” incised on the base of the bust, helps to identify the sitter. Although the authenticity of the inscription has been questioned on the grounds that the lettering is coarse and uneven—in marked contrast to the fine and careful chiseling of the bust itself—the shape of the letters is consistent with sixteenth century inscriptions, and the name of the sitter, Antonio Galli, is obscure enough to make a modern addition highly improbable.1