Francesco Petrarca
Medal
late 15th century or early 16th century (made)
late 15th century or early 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This plaque depicts Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), who was a poet.
Cast in bronze or lead, the Renaissance portrait medal commemorated individuals or events. They were used as gifts and mementoes and were inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanists. Many specialist sculptors were attracted to the art form. It was recognised that there was a ready market for medals among the growing class of collectors, usually members of the intelligensia or the gentry, who were attracted to small-scale works of art. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object.
Cast in bronze or lead, the Renaissance portrait medal commemorated individuals or events. They were used as gifts and mementoes and were inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanists. Many specialist sculptors were attracted to the art form. It was recognised that there was a ready market for medals among the growing class of collectors, usually members of the intelligensia or the gentry, who were attracted to small-scale works of art. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | Francesco Petrarca (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Bronze |
| Brief description | Plaque, bronze, Francesco Petrarca, unknown medallist, Italy (Florence), late 15th or early 16th century |
| Physical description | Medal depicts on the obverse bust to right of Petrarch, wearing a close hood over a cap round which is a laurel wreath. Inscription. No reverse |
| Dimensions |
|
| Marks and inscriptions | 'D . FRANCISCVS . PETRARCHA' (obverse, incised.) |
| Object history | From the Salting bequest. |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | This plaque depicts Francesco Petrarca (1304-1374), who was a poet. Cast in bronze or lead, the Renaissance portrait medal commemorated individuals or events. They were used as gifts and mementoes and were inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, excavated all over Italy and eagerly collected by humanists. Many specialist sculptors were attracted to the art form. It was recognised that there was a ready market for medals among the growing class of collectors, usually members of the intelligensia or the gentry, who were attracted to small-scale works of art. The medal format proved ideal for this type of personal and intimate object. |
| Bibliographic reference | 'Salting Bequest (A. 70 to A. 1029-1910) / Murray Bequest (A. 1030 to A. 1096-1910)'. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum (Department of Architecture and Sculpture). London: Printed under the Authority of his Majesty's Stationery Office, by Eyre and Spottiswoode, Limited, East Harding Street, EC, p. 47 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.330-1910 |
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| Record created | June 24, 2009 |
| Record URL |
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