The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of September 15, 2026

A gilt bronze medallion depicts a muscular nude male figure in relief, kneeling on one knee amidst stylized flames. His head is turned to our right, beside a floating ribbon scroll with markings. Much of the gilding is worn away to reveal dark bronze underneath. The circular relief features a raised border with small holes on the left and right sides. The golden surface is textured with dark, worn patches across the figure.

Allegory

possibly early 1500s

possibly Northern Italy, 16th century

gilt bronze
Diameter: 3.6 cm (1 7/16 in.)
Norman O. Stone and Ella A. Stone Memorial Fund 1968.29
Location: 118 Italian Renaissance

Description

This object might have graced a man’s hat or the handle of a sword. The allegory has yet to be deciphered, but the heroic male nude chained in flames probably addresses masculine virtues of strength or stoicism.
  • Dr. Leo Mildenberg (Zurich, Switzerland), sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1968.
    Dr. Jacob Hirsch (New York, New York)
  • Year in Review for 1968. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 29-March 9, 1969).
  • {{cite web|title=Allegory|url=false|author=|year=possibly early 1500s|access-date=15 September 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1968.29