DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.68735#0263
MEDALS ATTRIBUTED TO BERTOLDO
9II-I2
SIGNED MEDAL
MOHAMMAD II, Sultan of Turkey.
911. Obv. MAVMbET ASIE AC TRAPESVNZIS
MAGNE QVE GRETIE IMPERAT* Bust 1., with
close-trimmed beard, turban, robe with broad
falling collar, and crescent suspended round
neck.
Rev. Triumphal car r. drawn by two prancing
horses, led by nude man, helmeted, carrying
trophy over 1. shoulder (Mars); the car is
decorated on the side by a swag depending from
two lion’s masks and a throne from the seat
of which rise flames; on the car, a man, with
flying cloak fastened at neck, carrying in ex-
tended 1. a small figure of a man who has in
his extended r. a globe or patera, and holding
in r. a cord which passes round the waists of
three women, nude, wearing spiked crowns
(GRETIE TRAPESVNTV ASIE). In exergue OPVS I
BERTOLD11 FLORENTIN [SCVLTORjlS between two
reclining nude figures; on 1. a man holding
trident in 1. (the Sea); on r. a woman 1., holding
cornucopiae in r. (the Earth).
Arm. I, 76, 1 (94 mm.). Mohsen, i, p. 134. Friedlander,
Goethesche Sammlung,no. 32. Fabr., p. no. M. Bernhart
in Monatshefte fur Kunstwiss., viii (1915), p. 70. Karabacek,
Abendland. Kunstler (Denkschr. Wien, 62, i, 1918), pp. 50 ff.
Bode, Bertoldo, pp. 18 ff. [c. Pl. 147.]
(a) Berlin, 94 mm. Friedl., p. 163, Pl. xxxii. Bode,
Flor. BildhP, p. 258. Fabr., Pl. xxi, no. 5. Kara-
bacek, loc. cit. Hab., Pl. xxxiv, 2. (Z>) Another, 94 mm.
Simon, no. 157. Berl. Exh. (1898), Pl. xxxvi. Bode,
Bertoldo, loc. cit. Jacobs, loc. cit., p. 3. (r) London,
J 93 mm., ex Pozzi Sale (1919), no. 816. Pres, by
Mr. Henry Van den Bergh through the Nat. Art. Coll.
Fund. Report, xvi (1919), p. 51. (</) London, V. A. M.
(Salting), J 94 mm. (e) Milan, Med. Mun. (Brera),
J 93-5 mm. (/) Modena, J, 93-5 mm. (^j Oxford,
Ashmolean Mus., J 92 mm. (h) Paris, 94 mm. Armand,
loc. cit. Heiss, Nice. Spinelli, p. 77, Pl. viii, no. 2.
(/) Gustave Dreyfus, | 94 mm.
The portrait, according to Fabriczy and Bode, is copied
closely from that on Bellini’s medal, and Bertoldo’s work
must date from 1480 or 1481 at the latest. Bode bases
this latter statement on the hypothesis that, according to
the tenor of the inscription, the Sultan is still alive. Pre-
sumably he takes IMPERAT for a verb, which it might
be if it could govern the genitive; but it is of course an
abbreviation of Imperator. As to the portrait being copied
from Bellini’s medal, it is to be observed that the latter
does not show the crescent pendant. Apart from this,
there is no reason to object to the dating about 1480-1,
when, as Bode remarks, Lorenzo de’ Medici was in close
diplomatic touch with the Sultan.
Habich suggests that the throne on the side of the car is
the Sultan’s personal impresa; but, as Mr. Van de Put
points out, it is the ‘ Siege Perilous ’ of Arthurian legend,
a device of Alfonso V, and used by his successors on their
coins (see especially Qsxna.,Apuntes sobre ceramica morisca, iii,
Las divisas del rey, 1909, pp. 77-84. It is not clear whether
the man on the car wears a turban, as Karabacek thinks.
Jacobs argues that Bertoldo must have made the medal
in March, April, or early May 1480. Assuming that it is
based on Bellini’s medal, which he maintains was sent by
the Sultan as a gift to Lorenzo de’Medici, and cannot
have reached Florence before March 1480, he goes on to
show that the reverse alludes to the preparations of the
Sultan (preparations of which Lorenzo had information)
for the descent on Southern Italy {Magna Gretia) and the
conquest of a new kingdom (symbolized by the throne on
the side of the car). The three crowns of Bellini’s medal
reappear on the heads of the three figures drawn in triumph.
The figure on the car is the Sultan himself, symbolically
transfigured; the small figure in his hand is Bonus Eventus,
pouring a libation.
All these allusions (to which must be added that of the
Siege Perilous mentioned above) must have been designed
by Lorenzo himself, who must have ordered the medal as
a return for that of Bellini. The arguments, not always
convincing, by which Jacobs supports this ingenious inter-
pretation, cannot be fully dealt with here.
A blundered restitution of this medal is described in
Zeitschr.f. Nuvnism., vii, p. 202.
MEDALS ATTRIBUTED TO BERTOLDO
FREDERICK III, Emperor.
912. Obv. FREdERI6VS TERC1VS ROMANOR
VM IMPERATOR SENPER and in inner arc behind
AV6VSTVS Bust 1., with long hair, in hat with
round rolled brim, and robe with fur collar.
Rev. CXX1I ESV1TES CREAT KALEN,DI IAN
VARI MCCCCLX1X The Emperor, Pope, and
cardinals on horseback, with attendants on foot,
meeting on the Ponte S. Angelo, which is
adorned with garlands held by putti, and with
a double-headed eagle on the centre of the
parapet, along which the inscription is written ;
below, boats, &c. Moulded border.
Arm. II, 39, 1 (56 mm.). Van Mieris (1732), i, p. 64.
Kohler, xi (1739), p. 233. Herrgott (1752), i, Pl. viii, no. 1.
[239]
Heraeus (1828), Pl. 12, 1. Tres. de Num., Med. All. (1841),
PL i, 2. Friedl., p. 162. Fabr., p. 112. Hab., p. 78.
Bode, Bertoldo (1925), pp. 35 ff. [f. Pl. 148.]
(a) Berlin, 56 mm. Wrongly said to read MCCCCLX
VIIII Simon, no. 161. (ZJ Brescia (Brozzoni), 56 mm.
Rizz., no. 467. (c) Florence. Good, (d) London,
f 56 mm. Purchased 1857. N in Senper corrected to
M. (e) Another (George III), bronze gilt, f 55 mm.
N corrected to M. Guide to Historical Medals, p. 91,
no. 5. (/) London, V.A. M. (196-1866), j 55-5 mm.
(g) Milan, Med. Mun. (Brera), f 55 mm. (h) Venice,
Correr, J 55-5 mm. (/) Vienna, 56 mm. Domanig,
Portratmed. des Erzh. Oesterr. (1896), no. 1, Pl. i.
N in Senper corrected to M. (7) Gustave Dreyfus,
J 55 mm. Reads -CVS and SEMPER, (k) Formerly
Heiss, 56 mm. Much tooled ; N corrected to M in
Senper, 6 to G; no eagle on bridge; scene under the
bridge altered. (Z) Henry Oppenheimer, f 56 mm., ex
Lanna Sale, no. 553, Pl. 31.
9II-I2
SIGNED MEDAL
MOHAMMAD II, Sultan of Turkey.
911. Obv. MAVMbET ASIE AC TRAPESVNZIS
MAGNE QVE GRETIE IMPERAT* Bust 1., with
close-trimmed beard, turban, robe with broad
falling collar, and crescent suspended round
neck.
Rev. Triumphal car r. drawn by two prancing
horses, led by nude man, helmeted, carrying
trophy over 1. shoulder (Mars); the car is
decorated on the side by a swag depending from
two lion’s masks and a throne from the seat
of which rise flames; on the car, a man, with
flying cloak fastened at neck, carrying in ex-
tended 1. a small figure of a man who has in
his extended r. a globe or patera, and holding
in r. a cord which passes round the waists of
three women, nude, wearing spiked crowns
(GRETIE TRAPESVNTV ASIE). In exergue OPVS I
BERTOLD11 FLORENTIN [SCVLTORjlS between two
reclining nude figures; on 1. a man holding
trident in 1. (the Sea); on r. a woman 1., holding
cornucopiae in r. (the Earth).
Arm. I, 76, 1 (94 mm.). Mohsen, i, p. 134. Friedlander,
Goethesche Sammlung,no. 32. Fabr., p. no. M. Bernhart
in Monatshefte fur Kunstwiss., viii (1915), p. 70. Karabacek,
Abendland. Kunstler (Denkschr. Wien, 62, i, 1918), pp. 50 ff.
Bode, Bertoldo, pp. 18 ff. [c. Pl. 147.]
(a) Berlin, 94 mm. Friedl., p. 163, Pl. xxxii. Bode,
Flor. BildhP, p. 258. Fabr., Pl. xxi, no. 5. Kara-
bacek, loc. cit. Hab., Pl. xxxiv, 2. (Z>) Another, 94 mm.
Simon, no. 157. Berl. Exh. (1898), Pl. xxxvi. Bode,
Bertoldo, loc. cit. Jacobs, loc. cit., p. 3. (r) London,
J 93 mm., ex Pozzi Sale (1919), no. 816. Pres, by
Mr. Henry Van den Bergh through the Nat. Art. Coll.
Fund. Report, xvi (1919), p. 51. (</) London, V. A. M.
(Salting), J 94 mm. (e) Milan, Med. Mun. (Brera),
J 93-5 mm. (/) Modena, J, 93-5 mm. (^j Oxford,
Ashmolean Mus., J 92 mm. (h) Paris, 94 mm. Armand,
loc. cit. Heiss, Nice. Spinelli, p. 77, Pl. viii, no. 2.
(/) Gustave Dreyfus, | 94 mm.
The portrait, according to Fabriczy and Bode, is copied
closely from that on Bellini’s medal, and Bertoldo’s work
must date from 1480 or 1481 at the latest. Bode bases
this latter statement on the hypothesis that, according to
the tenor of the inscription, the Sultan is still alive. Pre-
sumably he takes IMPERAT for a verb, which it might
be if it could govern the genitive; but it is of course an
abbreviation of Imperator. As to the portrait being copied
from Bellini’s medal, it is to be observed that the latter
does not show the crescent pendant. Apart from this,
there is no reason to object to the dating about 1480-1,
when, as Bode remarks, Lorenzo de’ Medici was in close
diplomatic touch with the Sultan.
Habich suggests that the throne on the side of the car is
the Sultan’s personal impresa; but, as Mr. Van de Put
points out, it is the ‘ Siege Perilous ’ of Arthurian legend,
a device of Alfonso V, and used by his successors on their
coins (see especially Qsxna.,Apuntes sobre ceramica morisca, iii,
Las divisas del rey, 1909, pp. 77-84. It is not clear whether
the man on the car wears a turban, as Karabacek thinks.
Jacobs argues that Bertoldo must have made the medal
in March, April, or early May 1480. Assuming that it is
based on Bellini’s medal, which he maintains was sent by
the Sultan as a gift to Lorenzo de’Medici, and cannot
have reached Florence before March 1480, he goes on to
show that the reverse alludes to the preparations of the
Sultan (preparations of which Lorenzo had information)
for the descent on Southern Italy {Magna Gretia) and the
conquest of a new kingdom (symbolized by the throne on
the side of the car). The three crowns of Bellini’s medal
reappear on the heads of the three figures drawn in triumph.
The figure on the car is the Sultan himself, symbolically
transfigured; the small figure in his hand is Bonus Eventus,
pouring a libation.
All these allusions (to which must be added that of the
Siege Perilous mentioned above) must have been designed
by Lorenzo himself, who must have ordered the medal as
a return for that of Bellini. The arguments, not always
convincing, by which Jacobs supports this ingenious inter-
pretation, cannot be fully dealt with here.
A blundered restitution of this medal is described in
Zeitschr.f. Nuvnism., vii, p. 202.
MEDALS ATTRIBUTED TO BERTOLDO
FREDERICK III, Emperor.
912. Obv. FREdERI6VS TERC1VS ROMANOR
VM IMPERATOR SENPER and in inner arc behind
AV6VSTVS Bust 1., with long hair, in hat with
round rolled brim, and robe with fur collar.
Rev. CXX1I ESV1TES CREAT KALEN,DI IAN
VARI MCCCCLX1X The Emperor, Pope, and
cardinals on horseback, with attendants on foot,
meeting on the Ponte S. Angelo, which is
adorned with garlands held by putti, and with
a double-headed eagle on the centre of the
parapet, along which the inscription is written ;
below, boats, &c. Moulded border.
Arm. II, 39, 1 (56 mm.). Van Mieris (1732), i, p. 64.
Kohler, xi (1739), p. 233. Herrgott (1752), i, Pl. viii, no. 1.
[239]
Heraeus (1828), Pl. 12, 1. Tres. de Num., Med. All. (1841),
PL i, 2. Friedl., p. 162. Fabr., p. 112. Hab., p. 78.
Bode, Bertoldo (1925), pp. 35 ff. [f. Pl. 148.]
(a) Berlin, 56 mm. Wrongly said to read MCCCCLX
VIIII Simon, no. 161. (ZJ Brescia (Brozzoni), 56 mm.
Rizz., no. 467. (c) Florence. Good, (d) London,
f 56 mm. Purchased 1857. N in Senper corrected to
M. (e) Another (George III), bronze gilt, f 55 mm.
N corrected to M. Guide to Historical Medals, p. 91,
no. 5. (/) London, V.A. M. (196-1866), j 55-5 mm.
(g) Milan, Med. Mun. (Brera), f 55 mm. (h) Venice,
Correr, J 55-5 mm. (/) Vienna, 56 mm. Domanig,
Portratmed. des Erzh. Oesterr. (1896), no. 1, Pl. i.
N in Senper corrected to M. (7) Gustave Dreyfus,
J 55 mm. Reads -CVS and SEMPER, (k) Formerly
Heiss, 56 mm. Much tooled ; N corrected to M in
Senper, 6 to G; no eagle on bridge; scene under the
bridge altered. (Z) Henry Oppenheimer, f 56 mm., ex
Lanna Sale, no. 553, Pl. 31.