Medal
Medal
16th century (made)
16th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This bronze medal depicts Adrian VI who served as Pope from 1522-3. On the obverse side he is shown to the left, wearing a tippet, hood and a cap. On the reverse side St Peter and St Paul are shown standing close to a building.
The portrait medal was used as a way of showing friendship, wealth and scholarship. It was inspired by doublesided Roman coins, which usually had a portrait of the emperor on one side and Latin inscriptions on both sides. Renaissance medals had a portrait on the obverse side (front) and often a motto or allegorical figure on the reverse, underlining the qualities of the person shown in the portrait.
The portrait medal was used as a way of showing friendship, wealth and scholarship. It was inspired by doublesided Roman coins, which usually had a portrait of the emperor on one side and Latin inscriptions on both sides. Renaissance medals had a portrait on the obverse side (front) and often a motto or allegorical figure on the reverse, underlining the qualities of the person shown in the portrait.
Object details
Category | |
Object type | |
Title | Medal |
Materials and techniques | Bronze |
Brief description | Medal, bronze, Adrian VI, St Peter and St Paul by a building, Italy, 16th century. |
Physical description | Medal, of bronze, struck from a die. Adrian VI. (Adrien Florent), b. 1459. elected Pope in 1522: d. 1523. Obv.: ADRIANVS. VI. PONT. MAX. Bust to left, wearing a tippet, hood and cap. Rev.: S. PETRVS. S. PAVLVS. SS. Peter and Paul standing close to a building. |
Dimensions |
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Object history | Bought for 4s. |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This bronze medal depicts Adrian VI who served as Pope from 1522-3. On the obverse side he is shown to the left, wearing a tippet, hood and a cap. On the reverse side St Peter and St Paul are shown standing close to a building. The portrait medal was used as a way of showing friendship, wealth and scholarship. It was inspired by doublesided Roman coins, which usually had a portrait of the emperor on one side and Latin inscriptions on both sides. Renaissance medals had a portrait on the obverse side (front) and often a motto or allegorical figure on the reverse, underlining the qualities of the person shown in the portrait. |
Bibliographic reference | List of Objects in the Art Division South Kensington Museum acquired during the Year 1893. Arranged according to the dates of acquisition, with appendix and indices. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1894. pp. 163. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 1232-1893 |
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Record created | January 5, 2009 |
Record URL |
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