Not currently on display at the V&A

Cardinal Pietro Bembo

Medal
ca. 1532 (made)
Artist/Maker
Cellini, Benvenuto (artist)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

This is a bronze medal made by Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1572) in Florence, Italy in about 1532. The obverse represents Cardinal Pietro Bembo (1470-1547) in profile to the right, while the reverse shows Pegasus with the fountain of Hippocrene.
Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) was trained as a goldsmith in Florence. He developed great skill and originality in his techniques. He lived a dramatic but vibrant life which is documented in his autobiography (unfinished, but published in 1728). This book was translated by many writers, one of them Goethe and was the basis for Berlioz' opera 'Benvenuto Cellini' (1837). As a sculptor he has a Mannerist style, which is elaborate, elegant and precious. He stands for the tragic yet roamantic artist.


Object details

Categories
Coins & Medals
Portraits
Myths & Legends
Object type
Medal
TitleCardinal Pietro Bembo (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Casting
Chasing
Brief description
Medal, bronze, bust of Cardinal Pietro Bembo, by Benvenuto Cellini, Italian (Florence), ca. 1532
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 5.71cm
Object history
There is an electrotype copy of this medal (inv. no. 1857-91). It was bought from the Soulages collection in 1865.
Summary
This is a bronze medal made by Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1572) in Florence, Italy in about 1532. The obverse represents Cardinal Pietro Bembo (1470-1547) in profile to the right, while the reverse shows Pegasus with the fountain of Hippocrene.
Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) was trained as a goldsmith in Florence. He developed great skill and originality in his techniques. He lived a dramatic but vibrant life which is documented in his autobiography (unfinished, but published in 1728). This book was translated by many writers, one of them Goethe and was the basis for Berlioz' opera 'Benvenuto Cellini' (1837). As a sculptor he has a Mannerist style, which is elaborate, elegant and precious. He stands for the tragic yet roamantic artist.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1865. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London : Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 40
  • Robinson, John Charles. Catalogue of the Soulages Collection. London: Chapman & Hall, 1856, p. 151
  • Scher, Stephen K, The Currency of fame: portrait medals of the Renaissance, New York, National Gallery of Art (U.S.), Frick Collection., 1994 pp.173-174
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
717-1865

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Record createdMay 6, 2008
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O154118/cardinal-pietro-bembo-medal-cellini-benvenuto/
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