![]() Silver medal 1533 by Christoph Weiditz. Ø 84,9 mm, specimen in the Kunsthalle Hamburg. Obv. ·ANDREAE·DORIA· - bearded bust to the left, a bit too small, in the shady arm cut: 1533. Rev. ·PATRIAE·LIBERATORI· "Liberator of the Fatherland" Naked Neptune with fluttering garb and the Trident. To the sides two kneeling female figures: The personifications LIBERTAS (left) presents Neptune a Phrygian cap and PAX (right) presents him an olive branch. See details about LIBERTAS and PAX ![]() The medal appears to be a late tribute to Doria as liberator of his hometown of Genoa in 1528.
![]() Medal 1537 attributed to Matthes Gebel. Ø 33 mm. Specimen in The British Museum ![]() Obv.: ANDREA DORIA - Bust left. Rev.: INVIA VIRTVTI NVLLA EST VIA "for virtue there is everywhere a way" (Ovid) - Head right.
![]() Bronze medal (1541) by Leone Leoni. Ø 41 mm. Armand I 164,9; Bargello 712; Kress 431. Obv.: ANDREAS - DORIA·Pater·Patriae "Andrea Doria, father of his country" Bust with beard, order of the Golden Fleece and cuirass, trident at the back, dolphin below. Rev.: Galley with rower, two men rowing in a boat and a fishman at the coast.
Compare with Andrea Doria as Neptun
![]() (c. 1540/50, 115x53 cm, Pinacoteca di Brera, Milan, here a detail). Look at the Plaque on Andrea Doria ![]() (c. 1541, bronze 9x8 cm, British Museum London). |
![]() Medal (1541) by Leone Leoni. Ø 41 mm. Armand I 164,8; Kress 430. Self-portrait from Leone Leoni, surrounded by chains and manacles. A hammer and an oper leg-iron on his back and a galley in the background. This is an alternative reverse to the above medal for Andrea Doria.
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![]() Bronze medal (1561) by Leone Leoni. Ø 60 mm. Attwood 61; Pollard 500 = Kress 429; Börner 738; Scher (Currency of Fame) 52. Obv.: MICHAELANGELVS·BONARROTVS·FLO·Rentinus·AEtatisSuae·ANNnis - 88· "... in his 88th year of life" (Michelangelo, however, was 85 years old when he sat model.) Draped effigy to the right, on truncation the signature LEO. Rev.: DOCEBO·INIQVOS·Vias·Tuas·ET·IMPII·AD·TE CONVERtentur. [ET ligiert] "I shall teach the unjust that they and the impious become converted to you." (Vulgate Ps.50:15) An old blind man in the guise of a pilgrim, waking to the right behind his dog against a background of trees. In his right hand he holds a staff, a water flask, and the dogg's leash. In an earlier version, the dog leash is taut.
Compare the oil painting c.1544 by Daniele da Volterra
![]() Ref.:
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![]() Cast bronze medal, 1440-43, possibly by Antonio Marescotti. Ø 56 mm, 60,73 g. Specimen from Coin Cabinet, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin ![]() Börner 36; Armand 9/26; Hill (1912) 5 Tf.18/5; Hill (1930) 87; Kress Coll. 32; Currency of Fame 10. Obv.: ·PISANVS· - ·PICTOR· - Bust to the left, high crumpled hat, brocaded cloak. Rev.: ·Fides·Spes·Karitia·Iustutia· / ·Prudentia·Fortitudo·Temperamentia· Initials of the seven virtues: Faith · Hope · Charity · Justice / Prudence· Fortitude · Temperance. The obverse presents Pisanello's portrait at the height of his career in tasteful fine clothing.
The reverse honors the sitter as a representative of the elite of his time. The medal, formerly seen as a self-portrait, comes from a group of talented artists in Ferrara, whom Antonio Marescotti belongs. The portrait of this medal was copied in a fresco in Verona's Santa Maria dela Scala in 1443.
![]() Uniface medal, 1445-50 by Nicholaus Ferrarese (aktiv 1440-54) Ø 34 mm. Armand I 9/26; Hill Corpus 77; Kress 30. Specimen in the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC ![]() |
![]() Cast tin-lead medal n. d. (1472-1480), attributed to Candida oval 58x48 mm. Arm.II,85,9; Hill Corpus 823; Kress 222. Only known specimen in the National Gallery of Art ![]() IOHANNIS - CANDIDA - Bust to left, wearing round cap and plain robe. Look at Candida's medal on the marriage of Archduke Maximilian to Hereditary Princess Mary of Burgundy. |
![]() Partially gilt cast bronze medal c. 1494 Ø 60,2 mm. Model by Ambrogio della Robbia or Niccolò Fiorentino. Hill 1076; Bargello 271; Börner 405; Gesichter der Renaissance 59. Obv.: HIERONYMVS SAVOnarola FERrariensis VIR DOCTISSimus ORDINIS PREDICHAtoRVM Bust left with cowl and hood. Rev.: Ecce GLADIVS DOMINI - SVPer TERrAM CITO ET VELOCITER "Behold, there is the sword of God above the earth, quickly and swiftly" A hand with a dagger sticks out from a serpentine cloud, threatening a fortified city.
![]() Cast Bronze medal, late 15th century. Ø 86,5 mm. Hill 1079; The Currency of Fame 47. Medalist: Niccolò Fiorentino (?) Specimen from The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York ![]() Obv.: HIERONYMVS·SA - V°narola·FERrarensis·ORDinis·PREdicatorum·VIR·DOCTISSIMVS "Girolamo Savonarola of Ferrara, of the Dominican order, a very learned man" Savonarola n. l. hält Kruzifix mit Aufschrift INRI (Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum). Rev. divided with a vertical line between two opposing alternatives: • left side: SPIRITVS·DomiNI·SVPer·TERRAm·COPIOSE·eT·HABVnDAnTer "The Holy Spirit abundant and complete above the earth" The dove of the Holy Spirit on a cloud over a fortified city. • right side: GLADIVS·DOMINI·SVPer·TERrAm·CITO·ET VELOCITER legend and image similar to the previous medal. Ref.:
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![]() Bronze medal 1532 by Ludwig Neufahrer. Ø 66,5 mm. Habich II/2 1309a; Wettstreit in Erz, p.192 no.92. PAVLVS IOVIVA EPiscopuS· NVCERIAE 1532
![]() Bronze medal 1552 by Francesco da Sangallo. Ø 96 mm. Attwood 795; Armand I 156,1; Toderi/Vannel 1418; Bargello 309. Obv.: ·PAVLVS IOVIVS COMENSIS EPISCOPVS NVCERINVS·Anno·Domini·Nostri·Salvatoris·M·D·LII Bearded bust to the left, with hat, coat, fur collar and shirt. Rev.: NVNC DENIQVE VIVES "Now you will finally live" A tall man (Giovio) pulls a resurrected man from the grave with his right arm. A big book under the left arm (Giovios "Elogia" with the written biographies). The piece of the British Museum shows the signature at the bottom of the raised bust:
FRANC SANGALLVS FACIEB "Francesco Sangallus did it". Compare a specimen in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y. ![]()
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![]() Cast bronze medal c. 1506. Ø 44 mm. Kress 193; Hill (1912) p.41, no.17; Scher 33. Specimen in Gabinetto numismatico, Castello Sforzesco, Milano ![]() Vasari attribute the medal to Cristoforo Caradosso Foppa. Luke Syson at the British Museum London ![]() Obv.: BRAMANTES ASDRVVALDINVS to be read outwardly "Bramante of Monte Asdrualdo (!)" Nude bust to left, the arm cut off as in a sculptured bust. Rev.: FIDELITAS LABOR "Fidelity and toil" Architecture, a female figure, seated, her right foot on a weight, holding an architect's square and a pair of compasses. In the right background, a view from the west of the new design of St. Peter's: central dome, choir end and two towers, as on pope Julius' medal from 1506 for laying the foundation stone of the new building.
![]() Cast bronze medal 1504. Ø 46 mm. Hill (1912) p.42. BRAMANTES DVRANTINVS "Bramante of Castel Durante (!)" // FIDELITAS LABOR A coarse piece of work, copied from Caradosso's. St. Peter's is omitted from the reverse. The weight, on which Architecture rests her foot, carries the date 1504. This must be the date at which the maker of the medal wished posterity to suppose that the medal was cast; and this explains why he removed from the field the view of the new St. Peter's, which was at the time only an idea. [Hill, p.43]
Ref.:
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![]() Stuck bronze medal (1537) by Leone Leoni Ø 45 mm, 36,79 g. Börner 742. Specimen in the Coin Cabinet, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin ![]() Obv.: Divus▾PETRVS ARRETINVS FLAGELLVM PRINCIPIVM "The divine Pietro Aretino, the scourge of princes" - Draped bust to the right. Rev.: VERITAS / ODIVM / PARIT "Truth generates hate" Writing in a laurel wreath. Aretino received the title "Flagellum Principium" from his friends.
He himself used the saying "Veritas odium parit" from 1535. Obverse with double strike at the bottom.
![]() Bronze medal 1537 by Leone Leoni Ø 37,4 mm, 21,77 g. Armand I, 162,3; Toderi-Vannel 21. Obv.: DIVVS·P·ARRETINVS·FLAGELLVM·PRINCIPIVM· - Draped bust on the left. Signed at the section: LEO Rev.: as before, above date 1537, (below LEO, is missing here). Probably an original strike on a pre-cast blank.
![]() Cast bronze medal n. d. (1544) by an unknown artist (Francesco Segala from Padua?). Ø 60 mm, 79,15 g. Armand II, 153,11; Coll.Kress 484a. Obv.: ▴DIVVS▴PETRVS▴ARETINVS - Bust to the left. Rev.: ▴VERITAS ODIVM▴PARIT - The personified, naked Truth sits on a stone and looks up to God in clouds, behind her stands Victoria holding a wreath over her head; in front of her kneeling satyr. |
![]() Uniface cast bronze medal (1564-70) by Leone Leoni. Ø 60 mm, 46,53 g. Armand I 167/22; Börner 758. Specimen in the Coin cabinet, Staatliche Museen, Berlin ![]() GIORGIVS·VASARVS·ARRETINVS·PICTOR Bust to the right. At the arm section the signature LEO (for Leone Leoni, dimly recognizable). |
![]() Uniface gilt bronze medal n. d. (c.1645) by Claude Warin (c.1607-54). Ø 107 mm, 195,1 g. Specimen in the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon ![]() VERA·TITIANI - EFFIGIES· "True picture of Titian" Bust to half left, in the arm section at 4h: VARIN The sculptor and medalist Claude Warin (active 1630-54) worked as a die cutter in Lyon. He also aptly reproduced the obverse from the above Michelangelo medal by Leone Leoni in a larger uniface medal.
![]() Silver medal n. d. Ø 15 mm, 3,66 g. TITIANVS VECELLI - Bust to the left. // COLORVM PARENS - Sun with face. Ref.:
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![]() Silver medal 1669 by G. L. Hérard on the 150th anniversary of Leonardo's death. Ø 56 mm, 76,39 g. Wurzbach 9152 (bronze); Coll. Ampach 9709; Wellenheim 15014 (lead) Obv.: ·LEONARDVS·VINCIVS·FLORENTINVS· - Bust left with long hair, beard and cap. Rev.: ·SCRIBIT·QVAM·SVSCITAT·ARTEM· "He describes the art which he revives" Crossed feather and brush, above wreath, below landscape. Exergue: 1669. Compare the drawn portrait 1515-17
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![]() Minted bronze medal 1825 by Mathias Nicolas Marie Vivier (1788-1859). Ø 42 mm, 38,43 g. Coin cabinet, Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, obj.18260326 ![]() Obv.: LEONARDUS - VINCIUS. - bust with fur coat turned to the right. Below the signature VIVIER F. Rev.: NATUS / AN.M.CCCC.LII. / IN CASTELLO VINCIENSI / APUD FLORENTIAM / OBIIT / FONTEBELLAQUEO / AN.M.D.XX. SERIES NUMISMATICA / UNIVERSALIS VIVORUM ILLUSTRIUM / - / M.DCCC.XXV. / DURAND EDITIT From the series Numismatica Universalis Virorum Illustrium, Suite by Durand, Paris.
![]() Bronze medal 1907. Ø 50 mm, 52,25 g. Obv.: LEONARDO DA VINCI Rev.: ET VERAMENTE IL CIELO CI MANDA TALORA ALCUNI CHE NON RAPPRESENTANO LA UMANITÀ SOLA, MA LA DIVINITÀ ISTESSA. - VASARI - ·MCMVIII· "And really heaven sends us so many who are not just humanity but divine " Vasari quote.
![]() Bronze medal (1952) by R. Lojy, on the 200th birthday of Leonardo. Ø 82 mm. Obv.: MDC - LII / LEO - NARD / DE·VIN - CI / MDM - LII Head from the front, Lojy's signature next to it. Rev.: ·NE·SAIS-TU· - ·PAS·QUE· / NOTRE·AME· _ ·EST·FAITE· / ·D' HAR- - -MONIE· "Dont you know, that our soul is made of harmony?" - Sketch c.1490 ![]() Leonardo's diaries, showing a man with outstretched extremities in two superimposed positions.
![]() 20 Euro 2003. 500th anniversary of the "Mona Lisa" by Leonardo da Vinci. Ø 30 mm, 15,64 g. Friedb.762; Gadoury 115. Rev.: Mona Lisa, painted in 1503-06 ![]() acquired from the estate of Leonardo da Vinci by King Francis I of France for 4000 gold florin. |
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![]() Uniface cast silver medal, anonym, 17th or 18th century, dutch? Ø 50 mm. BENVTS·CELLINI·SCVLPR·ET·AVRR.
![]() Silver medal (c.1850) by P. Girometti (Series of famous men, 1845). Ø 41 mm, 43 g. Obv.: BENVENVTVS CELLINI - bearded bust right, below P.GIROMETTI.F. Rev.: SCRIBENDO / CVM BONIS CERTANTI / AVRO ARGENTO AERE / FLANDO CAELANDO / OPTIMOS SVPERANTI
![]() Cast bronze medal by Pietro Giampaoli (1998) in the style of the Renaissance. Ø 101 mm. The enigmatic reverse bears a partial image of undetermined design.
![]() Bronze medal 1971 by Mario Mosghi on the 400 anniversary of Cellini's death. Ø 80 mm. Vs.: BENVENUTO CELLINI - 1571-1971 - SCULTORE - SCRITTORE - ORAFO "... Sculptor, writer, goldsmith" Rs.: •IL COMUNE DI FIRENZE E L'ACCADEMIA DELLE ARTI DEL DISEGNO NEL IV° CENTenario DELLA MORTE DEL CELLINI |
Renaissance medals on former artists
![]() Cast bronze medal, c. 1490-1500. Ø 53 mm, 43,0 g. Börner (1997) No.408. Specimen in the coin cabinet of the State Museums in Berlin ![]() Obv.: ·DANTHES· - ·FLOREN-TINVS - Bust of Dante Alighieri to the left. Rev.: Dante holds his Divine Comedy in his left hand. He points with his right hand to a procession of sinners to hell. Behind him the purgatory. Above seven of the semicircles of heaven. The back is based on the oil painting by Domenico di Francesco from 1465
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Lit.:
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![]() Uniface bronze medal, c. 1480-1520. Ø 46 mm, 43,0 g. Hill (1930) 283 No.1105; Börner 105 No.412. Object in the Coin Cabinet of the State Museums in Berlin, exhibited in the Bode Museum. ·FRANC· - ·PETRAR· - Bust of Francesco Petrarch with laurel wreath to the right.
![]() Bronze medal n. d. Ø 54 mm, 66,35 g. Specimen at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC. ![]() Armand II 12/4; Hill Corpus 1094; Kress 301; Pollard (2007) 340. Obv.: ·FRANCISCVS·PETRARCA·FLOREN - TINVS Bust to the right with laurel wreath and covered neck. Rev.: Female figure (Poetry) walking in a wood, plucking laurels. Look at the Medal of Francesco Petrarca from the 18th-19th century, in The Metropolitan Museum, N.Y. ![]() Cast bronze medal, 1819 by Jeuffroy Desnoyers. Ø 40 mm, 38,06 g. Obs.: FRANCISCUS - PETRARCA - Portrait as before. Below the signature. Rev.: NATUS / ARETII / IN ITALIA / AN.M.CCC.IV. / ORBIT / AN.M.CCC.LXXIV. SERIES NUMISMATICA / UNIVERSALIS VIVORUM ILLUSTRIUM / - / M.DCCC.XIX. / DURAND EDITIT From the series Numismatica Universalis Virorum Illustrium, Suite by Durand, Paris. |
![]() Bronze medal, c. 1500. Ø 57 mm, 77,47 g. Armand II 12/8; Hill Corpus 1093; Kress 300; Pollard (2007) 341. Specimen at the National Gallery of Art, Washington DC ![]() Obv.: ·IOHannES·BOCAT - IVS·FLOREntinus Bust to left, head and neck swathes in cloth, and laureated. Rev.: Female figure (Wisdom) gazing at a serpent which she holds up. |
Page enlarged 8.2020 & 10.2022. |
Thanks to translate.google.com and deepl.com for assistance with the translation from German.