Donato di Angelo thumbnail 1
Donato di Angelo thumbnail 2
+2
images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
Medieval & Renaissance, Room 64, The Wolfson Gallery

Donato di Angelo

Medal
ca. 1505-1506 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

The portrait medal was used as a way of showing friendship, wealth and scholarship. It was inspired by double-sided 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 (front) and often a motto or allegorical figure on the reverse, underlining the qualities of the person shown in the portrait.

Bramante was architect to Pope Julius II. The reverse of this medal shows an allegory of architecture, with his design for the basilica of St Peter in Rome. As built, St Peter’s looks very different as subsequent architects departed from Bramante’s designs. Like many medals, the reverse does not align with the obverse image.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleDonato di Angelo (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Cast bronze
Brief description
Medal, bronze, self portrait of Il Bramante (Donato di Angelo), architect, by Bramante, Milan, end of 15th or beginning of 16th century
Physical description
Circular medal, the obverse depicts the self portrait of Bramante in profile, facing left. His hair is worn in tight curls on the base of his neck. Inscription. The reverse of this medal shows an allegory of architecture - a woman in robes with a measuring rule and her foot on a rough hewn building block. Inscription.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 4.4cm
  • Depth: 0.3cm
Measured for the Medieval and Renaissance Galleries
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'BRAMANTES ASDRVVALDINVS' (obverse)
  • 'FIDELITAS LABOR' (reverse)
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Production
formerly ascribed to Caradosso Foppa
Subjects depicted
Summary
The portrait medal was used as a way of showing friendship, wealth and scholarship. It was inspired by double-sided 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 (front) and often a motto or allegorical figure on the reverse, underlining the qualities of the person shown in the portrait.

Bramante was architect to Pope Julius II. The reverse of this medal shows an allegory of architecture, with his design for the basilica of St Peter in Rome. As built, St Peter’s looks very different as subsequent architects departed from Bramante’s designs. Like many medals, the reverse does not align with the obverse image.
Bibliographic references
  • Hill, George Francis. A Corpus of Italian Medals of the Renaissance, Before Cellini, Volume I, Text. London: British Museum, 1930, no. 657
  • Scher, Stephen K, The Currency of fame: portrait medals of the Renaissance, New York, National Gallery of Art (U.S.), Frick Collection., 1994 pp.114-115
  • 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 29
Collection
Accession number
A.225-1910

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Record createdJune 11, 2009
Record URL
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