Alfonso of Arragon
Medal
ca. 1449 (made)
ca. 1449 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This medal representing Alfonso V, King of Aragon and Sicily, is made by Pisanello (Antonio Pisano) probably in ca. 1449.
Pisanello (Antonio Pisano, b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) was an Italian painter, draughtsman and medallist. His richly decorative frescoes, courtly and elegant painted portraits and highly original portrait medals made him one of the most popular artists of the day. He travelled extensively and worked for several Italian courts, at Mantua, Ferrara, Pavia, Milan and Naples. Many of his paintings have been lost or damaged, making a reconstruction of his career difficult. He is now better known as a medallist.
He carried out several commemorative portrait medal commissions for Alphonso V of Aragon (b.1396-d.1458) whilst he ruled as Alphonso I Naples from 1143 to 1458.
Two-sided Renaissance portrait medals were a form developed by Pisanello, and commemorated individuals or events and functioned as gifts and mementoes. They were inspired by the Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanist scholars.
Pisanello (Antonio Pisano, b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) was an Italian painter, draughtsman and medallist. His richly decorative frescoes, courtly and elegant painted portraits and highly original portrait medals made him one of the most popular artists of the day. He travelled extensively and worked for several Italian courts, at Mantua, Ferrara, Pavia, Milan and Naples. Many of his paintings have been lost or damaged, making a reconstruction of his career difficult. He is now better known as a medallist.
He carried out several commemorative portrait medal commissions for Alphonso V of Aragon (b.1396-d.1458) whilst he ruled as Alphonso I Naples from 1143 to 1458.
Two-sided Renaissance portrait medals were a form developed by Pisanello, and commemorated individuals or events and functioned as gifts and mementoes. They were inspired by the Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanist scholars.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Alfonso of Arragon (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, Alphonso V, King of Aragon, by Pisanello, Italy, probably ca. 1449. |
| Physical description | Medal depicts on the obverse the bust of Alfonso of Arragon, with inscription. On the reverse a cupid driving four horses harnessed to a carriage. |
| Dimensions |
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| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This medal representing Alfonso V, King of Aragon and Sicily, is made by Pisanello (Antonio Pisano) probably in ca. 1449. Pisanello (Antonio Pisano, b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) was an Italian painter, draughtsman and medallist. His richly decorative frescoes, courtly and elegant painted portraits and highly original portrait medals made him one of the most popular artists of the day. He travelled extensively and worked for several Italian courts, at Mantua, Ferrara, Pavia, Milan and Naples. Many of his paintings have been lost or damaged, making a reconstruction of his career difficult. He is now better known as a medallist. He carried out several commemorative portrait medal commissions for Alphonso V of Aragon (b.1396-d.1458) whilst he ruled as Alphonso I Naples from 1143 to 1458. Two-sided Renaissance portrait medals were a form developed by Pisanello, and commemorated individuals or events and functioned as gifts and mementoes. They were inspired by the Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanist scholars. |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | 7118-1860 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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