Three Florentine Baroque Medals - Pietro Ottoboni, Antonio Vallisnieri, & Giancarlo de' Medici

Iosephus

Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni

by Bartolomeo Vaggelli, 1709

Bronze, 89.0 mm Ø

Obverse: Bust of Pietro Ottoboni facing right, wearing zucchetto and cardinal's cape. Around, · PETRVS · CARD · OTHOBONVS · S · R · E · V · CANCELL · . Under truncation, · BART · VAGGELLIVS · F · .

Reverse: Poetry kneeling, at right, among books; holding musical instruments in her right hand and focusing the rays of the sun with her left. At left, a winged genius runs forward, holding a cornucopia in his right hand and a laurel wreath in his left. Around, · COELESTIS · ORIGO · . In exergue, · MDCCIX · .

Pietro Ottoboni was born in 1667 in Venice. The grandnephew of Pope Alexander VIII (also born Pietro Ottoboni), he was named cardinal in 1689. With the wealth and privilege that came with his position, Ottoboni was a patron of scholars and artists, collector of paintings and books, and composer some sacred dramas and speeches. He was Dean of the College of Cardinals at the beginning of conclave of 1740, and was considered as a papal candidate. However, he died on February 29, 1740, shortly after the conclave began.

Reference: Vannel & Toderi (Toscana) n. 355

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Antonio Vallisnieri

by Antonio Selvi, 1713

Bronze, 86.4 mm Ø

Obverse: Bust of Antonio Vallisnieri facing right, wearing long curly wig and draped cloak. Around, ANTONIVS · VALLISNERIVS · PVB · PRI · PAT · PRO . Under truncation, 1713 · .

Reverse: Nature standing, at right, near table at which Curiosity sits, at left, containing insects, seeds, and fruits. Behind, arches and the arms of the Vallisnieri family on a pillar. At the sides and middle, various animals. Around, TANTVM · IN · MODICIS · QUANTVM · IN · MAXIMIS . In exergue, A · SELVI · F ·

Antonio Vallisnieri was born in 1661 in Trassilico. A physician and naturalist, Vallisnieri became professor of medicine and natural history at the University of Padua in 1700. He was a member of the Accademia dei Curiosi della Natura and performed research on insect reproduction. His discoveries were gathered in a work, Osservazioni e dissertazioni sulla fisica, la medicina e la stora natural, which was published posthumously by his son in 1733. Vallisnieri died in 1730 in Padua.

Reference Vannel & Toderi (Toscana) n. 142

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Giancarlo de' Medici

by Antonio Selvi

Bronze, 86.4 mm Ø

Obverse: Bust of Giancarlo de' Medici facing right, wearing zucchetto and cardinal's cape. Around, IOAN · CAROLVS · CARD · MEDICES · .

Reverse: A ship sailing left. Around, VASTVM . PRIVS . ÆQVOR . ARANDVM . .

Giancarlo de' Medici, born in 1611 in Florence, was the second son of Cosimo II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. In 1638, as a member of the Military Order of Malta, he was named General of the Mediterranean Sea. In 1644 he was named cardinal by Pope Innocent X. Little inclined to religious life, he was turned away from Rome due to his standard of living and returned to live in Florence. A lover of art and a great patron, Giancarlo assembled a large collection of paintings. He died in 1663 in Florence.

This medal is one of an extensive series by Selvi commemorating previous members of the Medici family.

Reference: Vannel & Toderi (Toscana) n. 333

harasha

Regarding the Vallisnieri medal; could the figure on the reverse be evocative of Diana of Ephesus?

Jackthecat1

Beautiful medals. Thank you for sharing them.

Zohar

These get better with each post. Excellent!

Iosephus

Thanks everyone!

@harasha said:
Regarding the Vallisnieri medal; could the figure on the reverse be evocative of Diana of Ephesus?

It would make sense to derive from that, representing mother Earth and thus providing nourishment for all.