A Child on a Lion
1300 to 1400
Medium
bronze//Dark brown patina
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 5.01 cm (2 in.) gross weight: 39.78 gr (0.088 lb.)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1957.14.184
Art Historical Context
**A Child on a Lion** by Gianfrancesco Enzola is a delightful small-scale bronze sculpture dating to the 14th century (1300–1400). Measuring just 5 cm (2 inches) in diameter and weighing a mere 39.78 grams, this intimate piece captures a playful yet evocative scene through its relief design. The dark brown patina, a natural result of oxidation over centuries, enhances its warm, aged glow, inviting close inspection. Crafted in bronze—a durable medium favored for its ability to hold fine details in casting—this work reflects the technical prowess of late medieval European sculptors. Enzola, wor...