Not currently on display at the V&A

Pietro Bembo

Medal
c.1547 (made)
Artist/Maker
Cattaneo, Danese (maker)
Place of origin
Venice (made)

The medal depicting the humanist writer and papal secretary, Cardinal Pietro Bembo (1470-1547), was probably made by the sculptor Danese Cattaneo, who worked primarily in Venice. It was at one time thought to be that made by Benvenuto Cellni, and described in detail in his autobiography, and in a letter of 1536, when he suggested the medal be posponed until Bembo had grown his beard. Differences between Cellini's account and this medal indicate that it was made by another, and its relationship to Cattaneo's medal style supports his authorship.


Object details

Categories
Coins & Medals
Christianity
Myths & Legends
Portraits
Sculpture
Object type
Medal
TitlePietro Bembo (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Bronze
Bronze
Brief description
Medal, bronze, Cardinal Pietro Bembo, probably by Danese Cattaneo, c.1547
Physical description
Medal depicts on the obverse the bust to the right of Bembo, bearded, wearing a cowl with the hood thrown back. Inscription. On the reverse Pegasus rearing, to the right. Beneath his hind hoofs, the fountain Hippocrene.
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 5.6cm
Marks and inscriptions
'PETRI BEMBI CAR' (obverse)
Object history
From the Salting bequest.
Subjects depicted
Bembo, Pietro (Cardinal)
Pegasus
Summary
The medal depicting the humanist writer and papal secretary, Cardinal Pietro Bembo (1470-1547), was probably made by the sculptor Danese Cattaneo, who worked primarily in Venice. It was at one time thought to be that made by Benvenuto Cellni, and described in detail in his autobiography, and in a letter of 1536, when he suggested the medal be posponed until Bembo had grown his beard. Differences between Cellini's account and this medal indicate that it was made by another, and its relationship to Cattaneo's medal style supports his authorship.
Bibliographic references
  • Scher, Stephen K, The Currency of fame: portrait medals of the Renaissance, New York, National Gallery of Art (U.S.), Frick Collection., 1994 pp.173-174
  • '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. 32
  • Burns, Howard, et al., Andrea Palladio 1508-1580: the Portico and the Farmyard, London: Arts Council of Great Britain, 1975.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.243-1910

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O313621/pietro-bembo-medal-cattaneo-danese/
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