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Augustin Hirschvogel of Nuremberg

Medal
1543 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This is a brass medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany in 1543. This medal is a rare example of a signed work by Gebel. The obverse of this medal represents the bust of Augustin Hirschvogel facing right, bearded and bare-headed. The reverse shows a globe, with inscription in mirror writing.

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
TitleAugustin Hirschvogel of Nuremberg (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Brass
Brief description
Medal, brass, Augustin Hirschvogel of Nuremberg, by Matthes Gebel, Germany, 1543
Dimensions
  • Diameter: 3cm
  • Weight: 12.3g
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 brass medal made by Matthes Gebel in Germany in 1543. This medal is a rare example of a signed work by Gebel. The obverse of this medal represents the bust of Augustin Hirschvogel facing right, bearded and bare-headed. The reverse shows a globe, with inscription in mirror writing.

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
  • Trusted, Marjorie. German Renaissance Medals: A Catalogue of the Collection in the Victoria and Albert Museum. London: Victoria & Albert Museum, 1990, p. 53
  • Inventory of Art Objects acquired in the Year 1867. Inventory of the Objects in the Art Division of the Museum at South Kensington, arranged According to the Dates of their Acquisition. Vol. 1. London: Printed by George E. Eyre and William Spottiswoode for H.M.S.O., 1868, p. 19
Collection
Accession number
140-1867

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Record createdFebruary 26, 2004
Record URL
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