Medal: John VIII Palaeologus
Active in Verona and the Italian courts, the celebrated master Pisanello left behind a significant legacy, including a large corpus of drawings, several paintings, and the devopment of the Renaissance portrait medal. Inspired by Roman coins, with their portraits of rulers and allegorical representations on the reverse, the medals commemorated individuals or events and functioned as gifts and mementoes. This medal commemorated the visit of the Byzantine emperor John VIII Palaeologus (1392 – 1448) to Ferrara in 1438 to attend the ecumenical congress of the Greek and Latin churches. The obverse depicts the Emperor's portrait while the reverse portrays him riding in a rocky landscape. Possibly the first medal produced by Pisanello, its design set a standard format for many future commemorative medals. This heavily worn aftercast possibly dates to the seventeenth century.
Artwork Details
- Title: Medal: John VIII Palaeologus
- Artist: Pisanello (Antonio Pisano) (Italian, Pisa or Verona by 1395–1455)
- Date: model 1439 (possibly cast 17th century)
- Medium: Lead.
- Dimensions: Diam. 9.1 cm, wt. 380.05 g.
- Classification: Medals
- Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
- Object Number: 1975.1.1306
- Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection
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Pisanello (Antonio Pisano)
Veronese
ca. 1441–44
Pisanello (Antonio Pisano)
model ca. 1445–47 (old aftercast)
Pisanello (Antonio Pisano)
ca. 1441–44 (possibly cast 16th century)
Pisanello (Antonio Pisano)
model ca. 1449–50 (possibly cast 19th or 20th century)
Pisanello (Antonio Pisano)
model 1440–41 (possibly cast 19th century)
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