Federigo Nigri
Medal
1552 (dated)
1552 (dated)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Cast in bronze or lead, the Renaissance portrait medal commemorated individuals or events. They were used as gifts and mementoes and were inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanists. Many specialist sculptors were attracted to the art form. It was recognised that there was a ready market for medals among the growing class of collectors, usually members of the intelligensia or the gentry, who were attracted to small-scale works of art. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Federigo Nigri (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, Federigo Nigri, unknown medallist, Italy, dated 1552 |
| Physical description | Medal depicts on the obverse bust to right of Nigri, bearded. He wears a slashed doublet with sleeves of chain-mail, and a cloak, and sword. On his head a small round cap with feather. Inscription. On the reverse a pollard willow in a landscape. Inscription. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | Cast in bronze or lead, the Renaissance portrait medal commemorated individuals or events. They were used as gifts and mementoes and were inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanists. Many specialist sculptors were attracted to the art form. It was recognised that there was a ready market for medals among the growing class of collectors, usually members of the intelligensia or the gentry, who were attracted to small-scale works of art. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object. |
| Bibliographic reference | '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. 46 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.322-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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