ticketsMember | Make a donation

Portrait medal of Battista Vigo da Rapallo or Baptista Romanus (obverse); a Hand Holding a Branch and a Surgical Instrument

model ca. 1510 (later aftercast)
Not on view
Little can be said of this medal’s place of fabrication or of the sitter, although the inscription on the obverse (M. BABTISTA RO. CHIRVRGICVS) indicates that he was a surgeon (Chirurgicus). Gaetano Avignone, who possessed this medal and published it in
1872, identified the sitter as Baptista Vigo da Rapallo, assuming that the RO in the inscription was a mistake
for RA. However, the RO may indicate a Roman origin for the sitter, and could be read as "Baptista Romanus." The image on the reverse seems to show a hand holding an oak branch and possibly a surgical instrument or a bridle.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Portrait medal of Battista Vigo da Rapallo or Baptista Romanus (obverse); a Hand Holding a Branch and a Surgical Instrument
  • Date: model ca. 1510 (later aftercast)
  • Culture: Italian, Venice or Padua (?)
  • Medium: Bronze (copper alloy with light brown
    patina and remnants of black wax or lacquer).
  • Dimensions: Diam. 6.4 cm, wt. 119.59 g
  • Classification: Medals
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.1258
  • Curatorial Department: The Robert Lehman Collection

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Cassone, Walnut, poplar, wrought iron., North Italian (Venice)
Cassone
North Italian (Venice)
ca. 1500–1525
The Madonna of Humility, the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the Pietà, Bartolomeo Vivarini Italian, Tempera and gold on wood
The Madonna of Humility, the Annunciation, the Nativity, and the Pietà
Bartolomeo Vivarini
ca. 1465
Saint Anthony the Abbot in the Wilderness, Osservanza Master Italian, Tempera and gold on wood
Saint Anthony the Abbot in the Wilderness
Osservanza Master
ca. 1435
The Annunciation to Zacharias; (verso) The Angel of the Annunciation, Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia) Italian, Tempera and gold on wood
The Annunciation to Zacharias; (verso) The Angel of the Annunciation
Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia)
ca. 1455–60
Coronation of the Virgin, Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia) Italian, Tempera on wood, gold ground
Coronation of the Virgin
Giovanni di Paolo (Giovanni di Paolo di Grazia)
ca. 1455

Related Content

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.