Hexogonal Font in a Landscape [reverse]

Art Historical Context

This lead sculpture, created in 1460 by the Petrecino, captures a hexagonal font set within a serene landscape on its reverse side. Measuring just under four inches in diameter, the compact work highlights the Renaissance interest in intimate, portable art forms. Its classification as sculpture underscores how even small-scale pieces could convey symbolic depth during this period of artistic innovation. The choice of lead as a medium allowed for fine detail while remaining durable and affordable, making such objects accessible beyond elite patrons. Likely the reverse of a medal or token, the scene evokes themes of baptism or sacred space, blending natural and architectural elements in a harmonious composition typical of mid-fifteenth-century design. Now part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection at the National Gallery of Art, this piece offers visitors a glimpse into the era’s blend of craftsmanship and spiritual symbolism, inviting close examination of its subtle modeling and balanced proportions.