Isotta degli Atti
Medal
1446 (made)
1446 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This medal depicting the bust protrait of Isotta degli Atti, is made by Matteo de' Pasti in Italy, dated 1446.
Isotta degli Atti was the wife of Sigismondo Malatesta (1417-1468), who was a noble, soldier and patron. Apart from his numerous political and military activities he made the city of Rimini into an important Renaissance centre for art, science and learning.
He was one of the first to realise the propaganda potential of medal-art and commissioned Pisanello to make some 15 medals.
He has been represented as one of the most disreputable but highly cultured rulers of the Renaissance. Burkhardt wrote: 'Unscrupulousness, impiety, military skill and high culture have been seldom so combined in one individual as in Sigismondo Malatesta'.
The medallist Matteo de’ Pasti of Verona is first heard of in Venice, where he was working for Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici on illustrations of the Triumphs of Petrarch.
He settled at Rimini in 1446 and married Lisa Baldegara and rose to honour in the court of Sigismondo Malatesta and aqcuired lands in Rimini in 1451. He made numerous medals of Sigismondo Malatesta.
He was the most accomplished among the immediate followers of Pisanello, although how far he was actually associated with him is a matter of conjecture. His versatility was considerable and his reputation ranged from architect, sculptor, painter and illuminator to medallist.
Isotta degli Atti was the wife of Sigismondo Malatesta (1417-1468), who was a noble, soldier and patron. Apart from his numerous political and military activities he made the city of Rimini into an important Renaissance centre for art, science and learning.
He was one of the first to realise the propaganda potential of medal-art and commissioned Pisanello to make some 15 medals.
He has been represented as one of the most disreputable but highly cultured rulers of the Renaissance. Burkhardt wrote: 'Unscrupulousness, impiety, military skill and high culture have been seldom so combined in one individual as in Sigismondo Malatesta'.
The medallist Matteo de’ Pasti of Verona is first heard of in Venice, where he was working for Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici on illustrations of the Triumphs of Petrarch.
He settled at Rimini in 1446 and married Lisa Baldegara and rose to honour in the court of Sigismondo Malatesta and aqcuired lands in Rimini in 1451. He made numerous medals of Sigismondo Malatesta.
He was the most accomplished among the immediate followers of Pisanello, although how far he was actually associated with him is a matter of conjecture. His versatility was considerable and his reputation ranged from architect, sculptor, painter and illuminator to medallist.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Isotta degli Atti (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, bust of Isotta degli Atti, by Matteo de' Pasti, Italy, dated 1446 |
| Physical description | This medal depicts on the obverse the bust portrait of Isotta degli Atti (of Rimini) and on the reverse a flying angel holding a wreath. |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Bought, 14s. in 1863. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This medal depicting the bust protrait of Isotta degli Atti, is made by Matteo de' Pasti in Italy, dated 1446. Isotta degli Atti was the wife of Sigismondo Malatesta (1417-1468), who was a noble, soldier and patron. Apart from his numerous political and military activities he made the city of Rimini into an important Renaissance centre for art, science and learning. He was one of the first to realise the propaganda potential of medal-art and commissioned Pisanello to make some 15 medals. He has been represented as one of the most disreputable but highly cultured rulers of the Renaissance. Burkhardt wrote: 'Unscrupulousness, impiety, military skill and high culture have been seldom so combined in one individual as in Sigismondo Malatesta'. The medallist Matteo de’ Pasti of Verona is first heard of in Venice, where he was working for Piero di Cosimo de’ Medici on illustrations of the Triumphs of Petrarch. He settled at Rimini in 1446 and married Lisa Baldegara and rose to honour in the court of Sigismondo Malatesta and aqcuired lands in Rimini in 1451. He made numerous medals of Sigismondo Malatesta. He was the most accomplished among the immediate followers of Pisanello, although how far he was actually associated with him is a matter of conjecture. His versatility was considerable and his reputation ranged from architect, sculptor, painter and illuminator to medallist. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 7910-1863 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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