Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga
Medal
ca. 1483 (made)
ca. 1483 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This bronze medal is made by Sperandino Savelli of Mantua in ca. 1483.
It depicts on the obverse a bust of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga (1444-1483) and on the reverse an obelisk with a dog, armour and weapons.
Sperandino Savelli was a prolific medallist if an inferior imitator of Pisanello. He was born in Mantua but worked mainly in Ferrara. From 1478-1490, however, he worked at Bologna where Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga, who had been appointed Papal Legate there in 1471, was resident for long periods and eventually died.
Possibly the design refers to the uncertain outcome of the war with Venice over Ferrara. Cardinal Francesco had been sent from Bologna as the Pope's special Legate to Ferrara in the winter of 1482-83
It depicts on the obverse a bust of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga (1444-1483) and on the reverse an obelisk with a dog, armour and weapons.
Sperandino Savelli was a prolific medallist if an inferior imitator of Pisanello. He was born in Mantua but worked mainly in Ferrara. From 1478-1490, however, he worked at Bologna where Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga, who had been appointed Papal Legate there in 1471, was resident for long periods and eventually died.
Possibly the design refers to the uncertain outcome of the war with Venice over Ferrara. Cardinal Francesco had been sent from Bologna as the Pope's special Legate to Ferrara in the winter of 1482-83
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, bust of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga, by Sperandio Savelli, Italy, ca. 1483 |
| Physical description | Medal depicts: Obv. bust of Francesco Gonzaga. Rev. an obelisk, with a dog, armour, and weapons. The reverse, which is inscribed Opvs. Sperandei. shows a lynx (?) sitting beside a pyramid labelled ENIGMATA and surrounded by pieces of martial equipment (a cuirass, shield, bow and arrows) also reflected in the sky. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions |
|
| Historical context | Possibly the design refers to the uncertain outcome of the war with Venice over Ferrara. Cardinal Francesco had been sent from Bologna as the Pope's special Legate to Ferrara in the winter of 1482-83. A silver copy of this medal was owned by Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, the Cardinal's brother. The pyramid has been related (by Gerola) to Marchese Ludovico's emblem of a pyramid-shaped diamond above a rocky island. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This bronze medal is made by Sperandino Savelli of Mantua in ca. 1483. It depicts on the obverse a bust of Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga (1444-1483) and on the reverse an obelisk with a dog, armour and weapons. Sperandino Savelli was a prolific medallist if an inferior imitator of Pisanello. He was born in Mantua but worked mainly in Ferrara. From 1478-1490, however, he worked at Bologna where Cardinal Francesco Gonzaga, who had been appointed Papal Legate there in 1471, was resident for long periods and eventually died. Possibly the design refers to the uncertain outcome of the war with Venice over Ferrara. Cardinal Francesco had been sent from Bologna as the Pope's special Legate to Ferrara in the winter of 1482-83 |
| Bibliographic reference | Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1860. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 26 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 6803-1860 |
About this object record
Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.
Suggest feedback
| Record created | August 27, 2008 |
| Record URL |
Download as: JSON
