Lorenzo de' Medici, il Magnifico, 1449-1492 (The Pazzi Conspiracy Medal) [obverse]

1478

Bertoldo di Giovanni

Associated Names
Bertoldo di Giovanni

Artist, Florentine, c. 1430/1440 - 1491

The sculpture is a round, flat relief medallion featuring a depiction of a male figure in profile with long hair, gazing to the right. The material is a brownish metal with visible patina. The central figure is surrounded by architectural elements resembling a building or structure, with smaller human figures depicted around it, some of whom appear to be carrying beams or poles. The top of the sculpture shows the partial inscription "LAVRENTIVS MEDICES," while the center bears the inscription "SALVS PVBLICA."

Media Options

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On View

West Building Ground Floor, Gallery G16

Artwork overview

  • Medium

    bronze

  • Credit Line

    Andrew W. Mellon Fund

  • Dimensions

    overall (diameter): 6.6 cm (2 5/8 in.)
    gross weight: 77.48 gr (0.171 lb.)
    axis: 12:00

  • Accession Number

    1988.30.2.a

Associated Artworks

The sculpture on the medal is a relief of a structure with wrestling or athletic scenes occurring within. The medal is brown and metallic, possibly bronze. Above the arena, there is a raised relief of a head with elaborate hair, facing left. Latin inscriptions include "IULIANVS F ANTOCIEG" around the edge and "LVCTV PUBLICVS" inside the structure. The carving appears intricate, possibly commemorating a public event involving wrestling or athletics.

The Murder of Giuliano I de' Medici (The Pazzi Consiracy Medal) [reverse]

Bertoldo di Giovanni

1478

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Schlessinger; purchased April 1939 by J.W. Frederiks [1889-1962], The Hague; (sale, Sotheby's, London, 23-24 May 1988, 1st day, no. 31); purchased by (Cyril Humphris, London) for NGA.

Associated Names

Exhibition History

2001

  • Virtue and Beauty: Leonardo's 'Ginevra de' Benci' and Renaissance Portraits of Women, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., 2001-2002, no. 12, color repro.

Bibliography

2000

  • Luchs, Alison. "Lorenzo from Life?: Renaissance Portrait Busts of Lorenzo de' Medici." The Sculpture Journal 4 (2000): 9, fig. 8.

2007

  • Pollard, John Graham. Renaissance Medals. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. 2 vols. Washington, 2007: 1:no. 287, repro.

Inscriptions

around top circumference: LAVRENTIVS MEDICES; center: SALVS PVBLICA

Wikidata ID

Q63860733

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