Italian Renaissance Medals: Leonello D’Este & Niccolò Piccinino

AntonDee

A sampling of Pisanello's work.
Hope you like...

**Personage: Leonello D’Este **
Leonello D’Este, Marquess of Ferrara, born in 1407; became “Signore” of Ferrara in 1441 until 1450. He was natural son of Nicolo’ III.
Artist: Antonio Pisano (known as Pisanello) — Painter and Sculptor, 1395-1455.
He was born in Pisa, worked in Rimini, Venice, Naples, Ferrara and Mantova. Pisanello is considered ‘The Creator’ of the Renaissance medals.

Obverse: ·LEONELLVS·MARCHIO·ESTENSIS· in two lines across field; above .GE.R.AR.; below ·D·FERRARIE·REGII·ET·MUTINE· Bust facing left with short curly hair, wearing rich brocaded dress.

Reverse: ·OPVS·PISANI·PICTORIS· above on the right on rocky ground a lion standing facing right, singing from scroll of music held by a nude Cupid; in background, tall square pillar on which a mast with inflated sail and .M.CCCC.XLIIII; to the left background on rocky hill, eagle seen from behind.

Background: Cast in Ferrara in 1444 to commemorate his marriage to Maria D’Aragona.

Diameter: 99 mm. (Max. Diameter reported: 101 mm.). Bronze cast.

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**Personage: Niccolò Piccinino **
Niccolò Piccinino, condottiere. Born in Perugia in 1380, died in 1444. Piccinino was a pupil of
Braccio Da Montone in the art of war and was in command of the army of the Duke of Milano.

Artist: Antonio Pisano (known as Pisanello) — Painter and Sculptor, 1395-1455.
He was born in Pisa, worked in Rimini, Venice, Naples, Ferrara and Mantova. Pisanello is considered ‘The Creator’ of the Renaissance medals.

Obverse: ·NICOLAVS·PICININVSVICECOMES·MARCHIO·CAPITANEVS·MAX·AC·MARS·AER· Bust facing left, wearing tall cap with round crown and edge turned up all around and plate armour over shirt of mail.

Reverse: BRACCIVS_PISANI·POPVS_N·PICININVS. A she-griffin, wearing collar inscribed ‘PERUGIA’, stands facing left, wings raised, suckling two infants, Braccio da Montone and Piccinino.

Background: Cast circa 1441, during P. permanence with the Duke of Milano.

Diameter: 91.5 mm. (Max. Diameter reported: 101 mm.). Bronze cast.

TwoKopeiki

First time seeing his work - thank you for sharing!

Iosephus

Nice copies of these medals! I've always especially liked that Leonello d’Este reverse. Do you have an idea of when these specimens were cast?

AntonDee

@Iosephus said:
Nice copies of these medals! I've always especially liked that Leonello d’Este reverse. Do you have an idea of when these specimens were cast?

Thanks Joe, according to my father's records, the Leonello D'Este is likely an original cast. The Piccinino version we have is slightly different from the Hill's reproduction, so will have to dig a little further on it.

AntonDee

@Iosephus said:
Nice copies of these medals! I've always especially liked that Leonello d’Este reverse. Do you have an idea of when these specimens were cast?

If you're an admirer of Leonello d’Este, you'll like these two as well:

One exhibiting considerably more wear than the other but both deemed to be early casts. (68mm & 69mm respectively).

Iosephus

Thanks for posting these two also!