Ludovico Gonzaga, second Marquess of Mantua
Medal
ca. 1447-1448 (made)
ca. 1447-1448 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This medal depicts the bust of Ludovico Gonzaga, second Marquess of Mantua and is made by Antonio Pisanello in ca. 1447.
Antonio Pisano, or Pisanello (b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) was born Pisa or Verona, by 1395. He 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.
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.
Antonio Pisano, or Pisanello (b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) was born Pisa or Verona, by 1395. He 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.
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 | Ludovico Gonzaga, second Marquess of Mantua (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Cast bronze |
| Brief description | Medal, bronze, of Ludovico Gonzaga (1412-1478) 2nd Marchese of Mantua, by Pisanello, Italy (Verona), about 1447 |
| Physical description | Medal in bronze of Ludovico Gonzaga (1412-1478). Obverse; Ludovico, bareheaded, is described as 'CAPITANEVS. ARMIGERORVM / MARCHIO. MANTVE. ET. CET.' The etc. refers presumably to the lesser lordships. Reverse; shows him on horseback in armour and closed helmet with crest; the Gonzaga devices of the sun and the sun-shaped flower accompany him and the signature is given 'OPVS PISANI PICTORIS'. |
| Dimensions |
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| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Salting Bequest |
| Object history | From the Saling bequest. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This medal depicts the bust of Ludovico Gonzaga, second Marquess of Mantua and is made by Antonio Pisanello in ca. 1447. Antonio Pisano, or Pisanello (b.ca. 1395; d. 1455) was born Pisa or Verona, by 1395. He 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. 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. |
| Associated object | 7137-1860 (Version) |
| Bibliographic references |
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.166-1910 |
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| Record created | February 23, 2004 |
| Record URL |
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