Not currently on display at the V&A

Ippolita Gonzaga

Medal
1552 (made)
Artist/Maker
Da Trezzo, Jacopo (medallist)
Place of origin
Italy (made)

This medal depicts Ippolita Gonzaga (1535-1563), who became the wife of Antonio Caraffa in 1554. It is made by the medallist Jacopo da Trezzo (ca. 1515-1589). The obverse is a rather crude copy of Leone Leoni's portrait of 1551 and is kind of impudently signed by Trezzo.
Ippolita Gonzaga (1535-1563) was a member of the Gonzaga family of Mantua in the middle of the 16th century. Ippolita was already famed for her beauty and accomplishment by her 16th year. She was the daughter of Ferrante Gonzaga and Isabella of Capua. Poets praised her and she was equally portrayed endlessly. She suffered a premature death.


Object details

Categories
Coins & Medals
Portraits
Sculpture
Object type
Medal
TitleIppolita Gonzaga (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Medal, bronze, Ippolita Gonzaga, by Jacopo da Trezzo, Italy, 1552
Physical description
Medal depicts on the obverse the bust to the left of Ippolita in classical dress. Her hair is bound with jewels, and she wears two necklaces. Inscription. On the reverse is Aurora in her chariot, drawn by a winged horse (Pegasus), flying towards the right. She holds a torch in her left hand, and with her right scatters flowers. Below, a landscape with a river and two towns. Inscription.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 6.85cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'HIPPOLYTA . GONZAGA . FERDINANDI . FIL . AN . XVII . / IAC TREZ' (obverse)
  • 'VIRTVTIS FORMÆQ PRÆVIA' (reverse)
Object history
From the Salting bequest.

Historical significance: The obverse is a rather crude copy of Leone Leoni's portrait of 1551 and is kind of impudently signed by Trezzo.
Subjects depicted
Chariot
Horse
Torch
Flowers
Landscape
River
Towns
Gonzaga, Ippolita
Summary
This medal depicts Ippolita Gonzaga (1535-1563), who became the wife of Antonio Caraffa in 1554. It is made by the medallist Jacopo da Trezzo (ca. 1515-1589). The obverse is a rather crude copy of Leone Leoni's portrait of 1551 and is kind of impudently signed by Trezzo.
Ippolita Gonzaga (1535-1563) was a member of the Gonzaga family of Mantua in the middle of the 16th century. Ippolita was already famed for her beauty and accomplishment by her 16th year. She was the daughter of Ferrante Gonzaga and Isabella of Capua. Poets praised her and she was equally portrayed endlessly. She suffered a premature death.
Bibliographic references
  • '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. 37
  • Chambers, David and Martineau, Jane (eds.), Splendours of the Gonzaga : Catalogue, London : Victoria and Albert Museum, 1981 no.149
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.270-1910

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O313192/ippolita-gonzaga-medal-da-trezzo-jacopo/
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