The Fall of Man and the Crucifixion, silver medal by Hans Reinhart the Elder, Germany dated 1536

Medal, cast silver. Obv.: VT. MOSES. EREXIT. SERPETE, ITA. CHRS. IN. CRVCE. EXALTATVS. ET. RESVSCITATVS, CAPVT. SERPETIS. COTRIVIT, VT. SALVARET. CREDETES. The Crucifixion; to the right, the Resurrection, and to the left a church and a horseman; below is the motto SPES. MEA. IN. DEO. EST. Rev.: ET. SICVT. IN. ADAM. OMNES. MORIVNTVR. ITS. ET. IN. CHRISTVM. OMNES. VIVIFICABVNTVR. VNVSQVISQVE. IN. ORDINE. SVO.; (1 Cor. XV. 22, 23). The Fall of Man; to the left the Creation of Eve, and to the right the Expulsion from Paradise. Below is the inscription IOANNS. FRIDERICVS. ELECTOR. DVD. SAXONIE. FIERI. FECIT with the arms of the Duchy of Saxony on the right and the shield borne by the Dukes of Saxony as Grand Marshals of the Empire on the left. Signed H R (Hans Reinhart of Leipzig) and dated 1.5.3.6.

Bought in 1898 for £6 from William Esam Esq, Maisonette, Ewhurst, Hawkhurst, Sussex.

This cast silver medal depicts Adam and Eve surrounded by animals under the Tree of Knowledge. To the left of Aam is the coat of the arms of Saxony, and to the right of Eve is the coat of arms of the Duke of Saxony. The Tree of Knowledge is shaped like a stylised cross, prefiguring the Crucifixion. The foliage has been soldered on to the tree, a feature typical of Reinhart's work. The reverse depicts the Crucifixion. In the background on the left there is a church while on the right is the Resurrection.

844-1898