ticketsMember | Make a donation

Medal: Sultan Mehmed II

model 1480 (old aftercast)
Not on view
A portrait of Sultan Mehmed II of Turkey (1430 – 1481),
the Conqueror, is on the obverse, and a chariot drawn by
two horses and led by Mars, abducting Greece,
Trebizond, and Asia, decorates the reverse. The medal
was possibly commissioned by Lorenzo de’ Medici and
designed by Bertoldo early in 1480. The reverse alludes
to the preparations for an attack by Mehmed II on
Southern Italy, which greatly interested Lorenzo
de’ Medici. This old aftercase is probably from a lead original with much wear.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Medal: Sultan Mehmed II
  • Artist: Bertoldo di Giovanni (Italian, born Florence (?) ca. 1430–40, died 1491 Poggio a Caiano)
  • Date: model 1480 (old aftercast)
  • Medium: Copper alloy.
  • Dimensions: Diam. 9 cm, wt. 270.79 g
  • Classification: Medals
  • Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.1.1265
  • 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.
Frederick III (1413-1493), Holy Roman Emperor (1452), Bertoldo di Giovanni Italian, Bronze, Italian
Frederick III (1413-1493), Holy Roman Emperor (1452)
Bertoldo di Giovanni
1469
The Resurrection of the Dead and the Last Judgment (reverse); Portrait Medal of Filippo de' Medici, Archbishop of Pisa (obverse), Bertoldo di Giovanni Italian, Bronze, Italian, Florence
The Resurrection of the Dead and the Last Judgment (reverse); Portrait Medal of Filippo de' Medici, Archbishop of Pisa (obverse)
Bertoldo di Giovanni
ca. 1468–69
To Commemorate the Pazzi Conspiracy, 1478, Bertoldo di Giovanni Italian, Bronze, Italian, Florence
To Commemorate the Pazzi Conspiracy, 1478
Bertoldo di Giovanni
1478
To Commemorate the Pazzi Conspiracy, 1478, Bertoldo di Giovanni Italian, Bronze, Italian, Florence
To Commemorate the Pazzi Conspiracy, 1478
Bertoldo di Giovanni
1478
Pietà, Bertoldo di Giovanni Italian, Bronze, Italian, Florence
Pietà
Bertoldo di Giovanni
1430–40

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.