Medal, brass, Christoph Ploed of Nuremberg, by Matthes Gebel, Germany, 1531

The obverse of the medal represents, as stated in the Latin inscription, Christoph Ploed (1496-1549) of Nuremberg at the age of thirty-five. His bust is facing right, and he shown bearded and bare-headed. The reverse shows a female figure seated on the ground and raising her hands towards a radiant cloud. An inscription in Latin identifies her as allegory of hope, and dates the medal to the year 1531.

This medal is part of a group of 140 medals and reliefs that were purchased from M. Henri Tross of Paris for £500 by J.C. Robinson for the Museum in 1867.

Matthes Gebel (ca. 1500-1574) who lived in Nuremberg, was considered the most important medallists 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 a friend of Albrecht Dürer and struck a famous medal of him in 1527.

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.

This is a brass medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany in 1531. The obverse of the medal represents the bust of Christoph Ploed facing right, bearded and bare-headed. The reverse shows the figure of Hope seated on the ground and raising her hands towards radiant clouds. The fine quality of the beard and shirt are typical of Gebel's work.

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.

138-1867