Seated male figure
Unknown Artist
mid-16th century
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Overall figure, confirmed: 15 3/4 × 12 3/4 × 19 1/4 in. (40 × 32.4 × 48.9 cm) Max dims, as mounted on base, confirmed: 22 1/4 × 12 1/2 × 21 1/2 in., 32.2 lb. (56.5 × 31.8 × 54.6 cm, 14.6 kg) Base only, confirmed: 10 1/8 in. × 12 1/2 in. × 10 in. (25.7 × 31.8 × 25.4 cm)
Classification
Sculpture-Bronze
Culture
Central Italian
Department
European Sculpture and Decorative Arts
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Edith Perry Chapman Fund, 1966
Accession Number
66.177
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking bronze *Seated Male Figure* from mid-16th-century Central exemplifies the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity and the human form. Crafted by an unknown artist, the sculpture captures a contemplative male nude in a poised, seated pose, measuring approximately 15¾ × 12¾ × 19¼ inches (40 × 32.4 × 48.9 cm) for the figure alone. Mounted on its integral base, it reaches up to 22¼ inches in height, weighing a substantial 32.2 pounds (14.6 kg), underscoring the material's density and durability. Bronze, a favored medium in Italian Renaissance workshops, allowed for intricat...