A Son of Martin Geuder of Nuremberg
Medal
ca. 1530-1550 (made)
ca. 1530-1550 (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This is a brass medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany in about 1530-1550. The obverse of this medal represents one of the three sons of Martin III Geuder: Sebald, Martin or Georg, who were nephews of Willibald Pirckheimer. The reverse represents the allegorical scene showing: Tribulation and Spes are hammering a heart, held in the fire on an anvil with pliers by Invidia. The meaning of the allegory seems to be that when the heart is oppressed by cares, one should trust in heavenly hope. It is based on a drawing by Albrecht Dürer. The allegory may have been conceived by Willibald Pirckheimer.
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 Dürer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527. It shows Dürer with short hair. This medal portrait should become the definite portrait of Dürer in an advanced age for future generations.
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 Dürer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527. It shows Dürer with short hair. This medal portrait should become the definite portrait of Dürer in an advanced age for future generations.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | A Son of Martin Geuder of Nuremberg (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Brass |
Brief description | Medal, brass, A son of Martin Geuder of Nuremberg, by Matthes Gebel, Germany, probably about 1530-1550 |
Physical description | Copper 86.8%, zinc 12.7%. Lead and nickel also present. The allegorical scene on the reverse shows the following: Tribulation and Spes are hammering a heart, held in the fire on an anvil with pliers by Invidia. Spes is pointing to a cloud from which rain is falling on the anvil. The anvil rests on the reclining figure of Tolerantia. The meaning of the allegory seems to be that when the heart is oppressed by cares, one should trust in heavenly hope. It is based on a drawing by Albrecht Dürer. The allegory may have been conceived by Willibald Pirckheimer. The man depicted on the obverse of the medal is one of the three sons of Martin III Geuder: Sebald, Martin or Georg, who were nephews of Willibald Pirckheimer. |
Dimensions |
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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 brass medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany in about 1530-1550. The obverse of this medal represents one of the three sons of Martin III Geuder: Sebald, Martin or Georg, who were nephews of Willibald Pirckheimer. The reverse represents the allegorical scene showing: Tribulation and Spes are hammering a heart, held in the fire on an anvil with pliers by Invidia. The meaning of the allegory seems to be that when the heart is oppressed by cares, one should trust in heavenly hope. It is based on a drawing by Albrecht Dürer. The allegory may have been conceived by Willibald Pirckheimer. 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 Dürer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527. It shows Dürer with short hair. This medal portrait should become the definite portrait of Dürer in an advanced age for future generations. |
Bibliographic references |
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Collection | |
Accession number | 82-1867 |
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Record created | February 25, 2004 |
Record URL |
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