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Christoph Kress von Kressenstein of Nuremberg

Medal
1526 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a silver gilt medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany, dated 1526. The obverse of this medal represents the bust of Christoph Kress von Kressenstein of Nuremberg facing right, the reverse shows a trophy of arms, with helmet and crest. Four related versions of this medal exist, the obverse of which are very similar, while the reverses differ. It seems likely that the four versions are by the same artist, and the assured style, and similarity of them to Gebel's known work suggests that this is by Gebel.
Gebel (ca. 1500-1574) who lived in Nuremberg was considered the most important medallist of his time. Also today he is considered as the most prolific medallist in Nuremberg of the Renaissance period. Habich ascribes 350 medals to him. They are almost all two-sided and thinly cast in silver, lead or bronze. He was friend of Albrecht Duerer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527. It shows Duerer with short hair. This medal portrait should become the definite portrait of Duerer in an advanced age for future generations.



Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleChristoph Kress von Kressenstein of Nuremberg (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Silver gilt
Brief description
Medal, silver-gilt, bust of Christoph Kress von Kressenstein of Nuremberg, by Mattes Gebel, Germany, dated 1526
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 3.9cm
  • Weight: 21.3g
Object history
Provenance: Tross. 140 medals and reliefs were purchased from M. Henri Tross of Paris for £500 by J.C. Robinson for the Museum in 1867.
Subjects depicted
Summary
This is a silver gilt medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany, dated 1526. The obverse of this medal represents the bust of Christoph Kress von Kressenstein of Nuremberg facing right, the reverse shows a trophy of arms, with helmet and crest. Four related versions of this medal exist, the obverse of which are very similar, while the reverses differ. It seems likely that the four versions are by the same artist, and the assured style, and similarity of them to Gebel's known work suggests that this is by Gebel.
Gebel (ca. 1500-1574) who lived in Nuremberg was considered the most important medallist of his time. Also today he is considered as the most prolific medallist in Nuremberg of the Renaissance period. Habich ascribes 350 medals to him. They are almost all two-sided and thinly cast in silver, lead or bronze. He was friend of Albrecht Duerer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527. It shows Duerer with short hair. This medal portrait should become the definite portrait of Duerer in an advanced age for future generations.

Bibliographic references
  • Trusted, Marjorie. German Renaissance Medals: a Catalogue of the Collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1990, p. 40
  • Inventory of Art Objects Acquired in the Year 1867. 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. 15
Collection
Accession number
75-1867

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Record createdFebruary 25, 2004
Record URL
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