DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68735#0036
4i-3
PART I
and, in inner arcs, anitatis*decvs* Bust r.,
wearing mortier and robe.
Rev. • OPVS • • PISANI • PICTORIS • On a rocky
mount, an open book, with ties and markers;
incised on r. page libe|r • sv|m •
Arm. I, 3, 3(80 mm.). Heiss, Pis., p. 16, no. 4, Pl. ii, 2.
Hill, Pis., p. 179. [d. Pl. 8.]
(a) Bologna, f 79 mm. Not fine. (6) Brescia, f 80 mm.
Rizz., no. 1. After-cast, (c) London, lead, 81 mm.,
Parkes Weber gift, ex Piot, no. 680. Burl. Mag., x,
(1907), p. 384. S. I. M., Pl. 9. Early after-cast from
a fine original, (d) Milan (Taverna), f 81 mm. Friedl.,
p. 40, no. 26.
Nearly all other recorded specimens (e.g. Hab., Pl. x, 2)
represent a much chased and ruined version. Finished by
19 Aug. 1448; probably begun when Decembrio went to
Ferrara in the summer of 1447.
ALFONSO V, King of Aragon and Sicily.
41. Obv. • DIWS • ALPHONSVS • REX • above;
• TRIVMPHATOR • ET • | • PACIFICVS . below.
Bust r., with thick hair, wearing plate-armour
over shirt of mail; on 1., helmet with low crest,
bearing on its side device of open book with
markers seen from behind and above it a radiant
sun; on r., an open crown, with ’M’l’OO
C*C* above, XLVini below.
Rev. • LIBERA LITAS • | • AVGV STA • across
field, and below, in sunk band, PISANI • PICTORIS •
OPVS In a rocky landscape, with hills at sides,
an eagle perched on a tree stump with a dead
fawn, having a gash in its side, at its foot;
around, two vultures and another large bird of
prey; below a hawk. Linear border, ending
in hooks, to upper part of design.
Arm. I, 6, 17 (no mm.). Heiss, Pis., p. 30, no. 22, Pl. ix.
Hill, Pis., pp. 196 f., Pl. 59. Hab., Pl. viii, 1. [e. Pl. 9.]
(a) Berlin, 109 mm. Friedl., p. 38, no. 22 (diam. wrongly
given as 101 mm.). (6) Another, 108-5 mm. Simon, no.
98. (c) Florence, 108 mm. Sup., no. n, Pl. v. Moderate.
(d) Frankfurt, Metzler, lead, 108 mm. Catal., no. 5,
Pl. ii, iii. (e) London, pres, by Mr. W. C. Heald. Lead,
fnomm. Keary, no. 3. Hill, loc. cit. S. I. M.,P1. 7.
Guide Ren. Med., p. 12, fig. 7. (/) Madrid, Bibl. Nac.,
silver, 107 mm. Friedl., p. 39. Heiss, loc. cit. Ker-
vyn de Lettenhove, Toison d’Or (1908), Pl. 98. 1. G. J.
de Osma, Apuntes sobre Cerdmica Morisca, iii (Madrid,
1909), p. 75. A much chased specimen, on which the
helmet bears incised VIR • | SAPI|ENS • | DOM INA|
BITV|R*AS|TRIS (^) C. S. Gulbenkian, f in mm.,
ex Gavet and Goldschmidt-Przibram, lot 65.
The eagle, who leaves some of its quarry for lesser birds
of prey, was the medieval exemplum of Liberality. Alfonso
used the open book as one of his devices ; the inscription
on the Madrid specimen (which may, however, not be con-
temporary, being badly tooled) refers to his astronomical
studies. Pisanello’s study for this medal is dated in the pre-
vious year {Dessins de Pis., Pl. 38; Hill, Pis., Frontispiece).
A marble medallion in the Museo arqueol. at Madrid is
based on the obverse of this medal (K. de Lettenhove,
op. cit., p. 178). The reverse is copied in the Paris MS.
Lat. 12,947 (Contrarius, Defence of Plato, from the Aragon
Library; Muntz, Ren. a VEpoque de Charles VIII, p. 424;
cp. also Hill, Pis., p. 161).
[ 12]
42. Obv. DIWS • ALPHONSVS • ARAGO • SI • SI •
VA • HIE • HVN • MA • SAR • COR • REX -CO*BA-
DV • AT • T • N • C • R • C • Bust r., with thick
hair, wearing fur-trimmed dress; below, open
crown; plain linear border.
Rev. • VENATOR • I • INTREPIDVS • (stops
punched) above, and below, in sunk band, OPVS •
PISANI • PICTORIS The young Alfonso, nude,
hunting a boar, whose ears are held by two
hounds; the king, leaping on his back, prepares
to strike with long dagger; hills rising on either
side in background; linear border ending in
hooks to upper part of design.
Arm. I, 6, 18 (no mm.). Heiss, Pis., p. 30, no. 23, Pl. x, 1.
Hill, Pis., p. 201, Pl. 60. Hab., Pl. ix. [c. Pl. 10.]
(a) Berlin, 105 mm. Friedl., p. 39, no. 23. (6) Flo-
rence, 105 mm. Sup., no. 12. Moderate, (c) London,
pres, by Mr. W. C. Heald. Lead, f 108-5 mm- Keary,
no. 1. Hill, loc. cit. (<Z) Another (George III), bronze,
f 108 mm. S.I. M., Pl. 8. Guide Ren. Med., p. 12, fig. 6.
(e) Paris, Musee de Cluny 7523 ; lead, no mm. Obv.
only. Ex Potocki, 1863. (f) Vienna, 105 mm., ‘old,
very coarse cast.’
A drawing for the obverse of this medal is dated MCCC
CXLV1III (Codex Vallardi, fol. 61, no. 2306; Les Dessins de
Pisanello, Pl. 35). The titles are: Aragonum Siciliarum
Valenciae Hierosolymae Hungariae Maioricarum Sardi-
niae Corsicae Rex Comes Barcinonae Dux Athenarum et
Neopatriae Comes Rosciglionis Ceritaniae.
Various plaquettes made from the obverse by cutting out
exist, e.g. in the Victoria and Albert Museum, 676-65 (Arm.
II, 29, 1; HI, 2, a).
43. Obv. Across field, • Divvs • alp honsvs •
AR|AGONIAE • VTRIVSQjVE • SICI LIAE • VAL|
ENCI AE • HIE • and, around, • HVN • MAIO • SAR •
COR • REX • CO • BA • DV • AT • ET • NEO . AC •
C O*RO«T>C* Bust r., with thick hair, wear-
ing cuirass and cloak; below, open crown.
Rev. • FORTITVDO | • MEA • ET • LAVS • MEA |
DOMINVS • ET • FACTVS | EST • MICHI • IN •
SALVTEM above and, below, OPVS • PISANI PICTO|
RIS An angel with drawn sword seated in a car
drawn r., by four horses conducted by two
young men. Plain linear border.
Arm. I, 7, 19 (no mm.). Heiss, Pis., p. 31, no. 24, Pl. xi.
Hill, Pis., p. 202, Pl. 61. Hab., Pl. x, 1.
[c. Pl. 11. d, rev. Pl. 11.]
(a) Florence, in mm., without signature. Sup., no. 13.
Rough cast. (Z>) London (George HI), f 112 mm., with-
out signature. Keary, no. 2. (c) London, V. A. M.,
7118-1860, f no mm., without signature. After-cast.
(d) Paris (Valton), no mm. Hill, loc. cit., with signa-
ture. Poor, (e) Paris, Louvre, 108 mm., with signature.
Cat. 1904, no. 450.
The signature lacks firmness, but the rest of the medal
is thoroughly characteristic, and it was perhaps left unsigned
by the artist. The signed specimens seem to be all later
casts. The motto is from Exod. xv. 2.
A small medal of Alfonso, based upon this, is sometimes
attributed to Pisanello. See no. 49.
For sketches by Pisanello for other medals of Alfonso,
see Hill, pp. 204 f.
PART I
and, in inner arcs, anitatis*decvs* Bust r.,
wearing mortier and robe.
Rev. • OPVS • • PISANI • PICTORIS • On a rocky
mount, an open book, with ties and markers;
incised on r. page libe|r • sv|m •
Arm. I, 3, 3(80 mm.). Heiss, Pis., p. 16, no. 4, Pl. ii, 2.
Hill, Pis., p. 179. [d. Pl. 8.]
(a) Bologna, f 79 mm. Not fine. (6) Brescia, f 80 mm.
Rizz., no. 1. After-cast, (c) London, lead, 81 mm.,
Parkes Weber gift, ex Piot, no. 680. Burl. Mag., x,
(1907), p. 384. S. I. M., Pl. 9. Early after-cast from
a fine original, (d) Milan (Taverna), f 81 mm. Friedl.,
p. 40, no. 26.
Nearly all other recorded specimens (e.g. Hab., Pl. x, 2)
represent a much chased and ruined version. Finished by
19 Aug. 1448; probably begun when Decembrio went to
Ferrara in the summer of 1447.
ALFONSO V, King of Aragon and Sicily.
41. Obv. • DIWS • ALPHONSVS • REX • above;
• TRIVMPHATOR • ET • | • PACIFICVS . below.
Bust r., with thick hair, wearing plate-armour
over shirt of mail; on 1., helmet with low crest,
bearing on its side device of open book with
markers seen from behind and above it a radiant
sun; on r., an open crown, with ’M’l’OO
C*C* above, XLVini below.
Rev. • LIBERA LITAS • | • AVGV STA • across
field, and below, in sunk band, PISANI • PICTORIS •
OPVS In a rocky landscape, with hills at sides,
an eagle perched on a tree stump with a dead
fawn, having a gash in its side, at its foot;
around, two vultures and another large bird of
prey; below a hawk. Linear border, ending
in hooks, to upper part of design.
Arm. I, 6, 17 (no mm.). Heiss, Pis., p. 30, no. 22, Pl. ix.
Hill, Pis., pp. 196 f., Pl. 59. Hab., Pl. viii, 1. [e. Pl. 9.]
(a) Berlin, 109 mm. Friedl., p. 38, no. 22 (diam. wrongly
given as 101 mm.). (6) Another, 108-5 mm. Simon, no.
98. (c) Florence, 108 mm. Sup., no. n, Pl. v. Moderate.
(d) Frankfurt, Metzler, lead, 108 mm. Catal., no. 5,
Pl. ii, iii. (e) London, pres, by Mr. W. C. Heald. Lead,
fnomm. Keary, no. 3. Hill, loc. cit. S. I. M.,P1. 7.
Guide Ren. Med., p. 12, fig. 7. (/) Madrid, Bibl. Nac.,
silver, 107 mm. Friedl., p. 39. Heiss, loc. cit. Ker-
vyn de Lettenhove, Toison d’Or (1908), Pl. 98. 1. G. J.
de Osma, Apuntes sobre Cerdmica Morisca, iii (Madrid,
1909), p. 75. A much chased specimen, on which the
helmet bears incised VIR • | SAPI|ENS • | DOM INA|
BITV|R*AS|TRIS (^) C. S. Gulbenkian, f in mm.,
ex Gavet and Goldschmidt-Przibram, lot 65.
The eagle, who leaves some of its quarry for lesser birds
of prey, was the medieval exemplum of Liberality. Alfonso
used the open book as one of his devices ; the inscription
on the Madrid specimen (which may, however, not be con-
temporary, being badly tooled) refers to his astronomical
studies. Pisanello’s study for this medal is dated in the pre-
vious year {Dessins de Pis., Pl. 38; Hill, Pis., Frontispiece).
A marble medallion in the Museo arqueol. at Madrid is
based on the obverse of this medal (K. de Lettenhove,
op. cit., p. 178). The reverse is copied in the Paris MS.
Lat. 12,947 (Contrarius, Defence of Plato, from the Aragon
Library; Muntz, Ren. a VEpoque de Charles VIII, p. 424;
cp. also Hill, Pis., p. 161).
[ 12]
42. Obv. DIWS • ALPHONSVS • ARAGO • SI • SI •
VA • HIE • HVN • MA • SAR • COR • REX -CO*BA-
DV • AT • T • N • C • R • C • Bust r., with thick
hair, wearing fur-trimmed dress; below, open
crown; plain linear border.
Rev. • VENATOR • I • INTREPIDVS • (stops
punched) above, and below, in sunk band, OPVS •
PISANI • PICTORIS The young Alfonso, nude,
hunting a boar, whose ears are held by two
hounds; the king, leaping on his back, prepares
to strike with long dagger; hills rising on either
side in background; linear border ending in
hooks to upper part of design.
Arm. I, 6, 18 (no mm.). Heiss, Pis., p. 30, no. 23, Pl. x, 1.
Hill, Pis., p. 201, Pl. 60. Hab., Pl. ix. [c. Pl. 10.]
(a) Berlin, 105 mm. Friedl., p. 39, no. 23. (6) Flo-
rence, 105 mm. Sup., no. 12. Moderate, (c) London,
pres, by Mr. W. C. Heald. Lead, f 108-5 mm- Keary,
no. 1. Hill, loc. cit. (<Z) Another (George III), bronze,
f 108 mm. S.I. M., Pl. 8. Guide Ren. Med., p. 12, fig. 6.
(e) Paris, Musee de Cluny 7523 ; lead, no mm. Obv.
only. Ex Potocki, 1863. (f) Vienna, 105 mm., ‘old,
very coarse cast.’
A drawing for the obverse of this medal is dated MCCC
CXLV1III (Codex Vallardi, fol. 61, no. 2306; Les Dessins de
Pisanello, Pl. 35). The titles are: Aragonum Siciliarum
Valenciae Hierosolymae Hungariae Maioricarum Sardi-
niae Corsicae Rex Comes Barcinonae Dux Athenarum et
Neopatriae Comes Rosciglionis Ceritaniae.
Various plaquettes made from the obverse by cutting out
exist, e.g. in the Victoria and Albert Museum, 676-65 (Arm.
II, 29, 1; HI, 2, a).
43. Obv. Across field, • Divvs • alp honsvs •
AR|AGONIAE • VTRIVSQjVE • SICI LIAE • VAL|
ENCI AE • HIE • and, around, • HVN • MAIO • SAR •
COR • REX • CO • BA • DV • AT • ET • NEO . AC •
C O*RO«T>C* Bust r., with thick hair, wear-
ing cuirass and cloak; below, open crown.
Rev. • FORTITVDO | • MEA • ET • LAVS • MEA |
DOMINVS • ET • FACTVS | EST • MICHI • IN •
SALVTEM above and, below, OPVS • PISANI PICTO|
RIS An angel with drawn sword seated in a car
drawn r., by four horses conducted by two
young men. Plain linear border.
Arm. I, 7, 19 (no mm.). Heiss, Pis., p. 31, no. 24, Pl. xi.
Hill, Pis., p. 202, Pl. 61. Hab., Pl. x, 1.
[c. Pl. 11. d, rev. Pl. 11.]
(a) Florence, in mm., without signature. Sup., no. 13.
Rough cast. (Z>) London (George HI), f 112 mm., with-
out signature. Keary, no. 2. (c) London, V. A. M.,
7118-1860, f no mm., without signature. After-cast.
(d) Paris (Valton), no mm. Hill, loc. cit., with signa-
ture. Poor, (e) Paris, Louvre, 108 mm., with signature.
Cat. 1904, no. 450.
The signature lacks firmness, but the rest of the medal
is thoroughly characteristic, and it was perhaps left unsigned
by the artist. The signed specimens seem to be all later
casts. The motto is from Exod. xv. 2.
A small medal of Alfonso, based upon this, is sometimes
attributed to Pisanello. See no. 49.
For sketches by Pisanello for other medals of Alfonso,
see Hill, pp. 204 f.