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Medal

1565 (dated)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This silver medal is made by Jacques de Jonghelinck, in Antwerp in 1565.

It depicts on the obverse the bust of Antonius van Straelen and on the reverse a nude female figure, representing Fortune, sailing over waves standing in a floating shell whilst holding the sail.

Antonius van Straelen, Lord of Merxen and Dambrugge, Burgomaster of Antwerp (1521-1568) was one of the victims of the Council of Blood. He was accused of being in favour of preachers of the Augsburg Confession and sentenced to death by the Duke of Alba.

This is supposed to be the perhaps most successful effort attributed to Jonghelinck. The portrait is refined and delicately rendered; the figure of Fortune sailing over waves is graceful and beautifully modelled.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Silver
Brief description
Medal, silver, Antonius van Straelen, by Jacques Jonghelinck, Flemish (Antwerp), dated 1565
Physical description
Medal depicts on the obverse the bust of Antonius de Straele surrounded by inscription.
On the reverse a nude female figure, representing Fortune, sailing over waves standing in a floating shell whilst holding the sail
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 5.23cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • ANTONII 'A' STRAELE ' DUS: ' DE ' MERKEM ' ET ' DAMBRUGGE. (on the obverse)
  • VIRTUTE ET ' CONSTANTIA (on the reverse)
Object history
Historical significance: Perhaps the most successful effort attributed to Jonghelinck. The portrait is refined and delicately rendered; the figure of Fortune sailing over waves is graceful and beautifully modelled.
Historical context
Antonius van Straelen, Lord of Merxen and Dambrugge, Burgomaster of Antwerp (1521-1568) was one of the victims of the Council of Blood. He was accused of being in favour of preachers of the Augsburg Confession and sentenced to death by the Duke of Alba.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This silver medal is made by Jacques de Jonghelinck, in Antwerp in 1565.

It depicts on the obverse the bust of Antonius van Straelen and on the reverse a nude female figure, representing Fortune, sailing over waves standing in a floating shell whilst holding the sail.

Antonius van Straelen, Lord of Merxen and Dambrugge, Burgomaster of Antwerp (1521-1568) was one of the victims of the Council of Blood. He was accused of being in favour of preachers of the Augsburg Confession and sentenced to death by the Duke of Alba.

This is supposed to be the perhaps most successful effort attributed to Jonghelinck. The portrait is refined and delicately rendered; the figure of Fortune sailing over waves is graceful and beautifully modelled.
Bibliographic references
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1860. In: Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, Arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol I. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 25
  • Smolderen, Luc. Jacques Jonghelinck: sculpteur, médailleur et graveur de sceaux (1530 - 1606) . Louvain-la-Neuve : Département d'Archéologie et d'Histoire de l'Art, Séminaire de Numismatique Marcel Hoc, 1996, pp. 264-266
  • Hill, George Francis. Medals of the Renaissance in the British Museum, 1923, p. 64
Collection
Accession number
6756-1860

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Record createdJune 24, 2009
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