Francesco II Gonzaga
Medal
before 1484 (made)
before 1484 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This is a bronze medal made in Italy. This medal is ascribed to Bartolommeo Melioli(1448-1514). The obverse of this medal shows the adolescent Francesco II Gonzaga, fourth Marquess of Mantua and the reverse shows a standing female figure.
The inscription on the obverse might suggest that this medal dated from before the death of Federico, Francesco's father, in 1484, yet comparison with the portrait medal by Ruberti on which Francesco is clearly designated Marchese show little change in his appearance. The occasion of the making of the medal is further obscured by the reverse: the Gonzaga device of the museruola may signify that restraint and control are conducive to good government. On the other hand, the suggestion that Francesco's medal was begun before and finished after Federico's death should not be dismissed out of hand: the inscription may express a desire for continued wise government after the premature death of the former Marchese and the suppression of a conspiracy against Francesco by his uncles in 1487.
The inscription on the obverse might suggest that this medal dated from before the death of Federico, Francesco's father, in 1484, yet comparison with the portrait medal by Ruberti on which Francesco is clearly designated Marchese show little change in his appearance. The occasion of the making of the medal is further obscured by the reverse: the Gonzaga device of the museruola may signify that restraint and control are conducive to good government. On the other hand, the suggestion that Francesco's medal was begun before and finished after Federico's death should not be dismissed out of hand: the inscription may express a desire for continued wise government after the premature death of the former Marchese and the suppression of a conspiracy against Francesco by his uncles in 1487.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Francesco II Gonzaga (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, Francesco II Gonzaga, by Bartolommeo Melioli, Italy (Mantua), before 1484 |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | Purchased in Paris (Piot sale, 1864, 25-30 April, £3 6s. 6d.). |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This is a bronze medal made in Italy. This medal is ascribed to Bartolommeo Melioli(1448-1514). The obverse of this medal shows the adolescent Francesco II Gonzaga, fourth Marquess of Mantua and the reverse shows a standing female figure. The inscription on the obverse might suggest that this medal dated from before the death of Federico, Francesco's father, in 1484, yet comparison with the portrait medal by Ruberti on which Francesco is clearly designated Marchese show little change in his appearance. The occasion of the making of the medal is further obscured by the reverse: the Gonzaga device of the museruola may signify that restraint and control are conducive to good government. On the other hand, the suggestion that Francesco's medal was begun before and finished after Federico's death should not be dismissed out of hand: the inscription may express a desire for continued wise government after the premature death of the former Marchese and the suppression of a conspiracy against Francesco by his uncles in 1487. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 501-1864 |
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| Record created | March 25, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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