Niccolo Piccinino
Medal
ca. 1441 (made)
ca. 1441 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This medal depicts the bust of Niccolo Piccinino, who was a mercenary soldier of Perugia (1380-1444).
It is made by Pisanello (Antonio Pisano) (b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) who was born in Pisa or Verona, by 1395. He was an Italian painter, draughtsman and medallist. His richly decorative frescoes, courtly and elegant painted portraits and highly original portrait medals made him one of the most popular artists of the day. He travelled extensively and worked for several Italian courts, at Mantua, Ferrara, Pavia, Milan and Naples. Many of his paintings have been lost or damaged, making a reconstruction of his career difficult. He is now better known as a medallist.
Two-sided Renaissance portrait medals were a form developed by Pisanello, and commemorated individuals or events and functioned as gifts and mementoes. They were inspired by the Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanist scholars.
It is made by Pisanello (Antonio Pisano) (b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) who was born in Pisa or Verona, by 1395. He was an Italian painter, draughtsman and medallist. His richly decorative frescoes, courtly and elegant painted portraits and highly original portrait medals made him one of the most popular artists of the day. He travelled extensively and worked for several Italian courts, at Mantua, Ferrara, Pavia, Milan and Naples. Many of his paintings have been lost or damaged, making a reconstruction of his career difficult. He is now better known as a medallist.
Two-sided Renaissance portrait medals were a form developed by Pisanello, and commemorated individuals or events and functioned as gifts and mementoes. They were inspired by the Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanist scholars.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Niccolo Piccinino (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cast bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, of Niccolo Piccinino (1380-1444), by Pisanello, Italy (Verona), ca. 1441 |
| Physical description | Medal in bronze of Niccolo Piccinino (1380-1444), a mercenary soldier. Obverse; bust to left of Piccinino, in armour, wearing a high soft hat with turned-up brim. Reverse; A gryphon turned to the left, suckling two children. It wears a collar inscribed, 'PERVSIA'. The signature is given 'PISANI. P. OPVS'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This medal depicts the bust of Niccolo Piccinino, who was a mercenary soldier of Perugia (1380-1444). It is made by Pisanello (Antonio Pisano) (b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) who was born in Pisa or Verona, by 1395. He was an Italian painter, draughtsman and medallist. His richly decorative frescoes, courtly and elegant painted portraits and highly original portrait medals made him one of the most popular artists of the day. He travelled extensively and worked for several Italian courts, at Mantua, Ferrara, Pavia, Milan and Naples. Many of his paintings have been lost or damaged, making a reconstruction of his career difficult. He is now better known as a medallist. Two-sided Renaissance portrait medals were a form developed by Pisanello, and commemorated individuals or events and functioned as gifts and mementoes. They were inspired by the Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanist scholars. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.170-1910 |
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| Record created | February 23, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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