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Isotta degli Atti

Matteo de' Pasti (Italian, about 1420–after 1420)
Italian
Renaissance
about 1450
Place of Manufacture: Italy

Medium/Technique Metal; cast bronze
Dimensions Diameter and weight: 82 mm, 251.9 gm (3 1/4 in., 8.89 oz.)
Credit Line Gift of Martin Brimmer
Accession Number87.82
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismaticsMedals

Catalogue Raisonné Hill 167. Kress 59.
DescriptionCircular medal of Isotta degli Atti of Rimini (born 1432/33-1474), mistress and then third wife of Sigismondo Malatesta.

Obverse: Profile bust of Isotta Degli Atti looking to proper left, wearing veil over hair; inscribed at edge "·ISOTA·ARIMINENSI·FORMA·ET·VIRTVTE·ITALIE·DECORI·" ["To Isotta of Rimini, the ornament of Italy for beauty and virtue"].

Reverse: Male elephant looking to proper left; inscribed above "OPVS·MATHEI·DE·PASTIS·[symbol]" and below "·M·CCCC·XLVI·".
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge "·ISOTA·ARIMINENSI·FORMA·ET·VIRTVTE·ITALIE·DECORI·" ["To Isotta of Rimini, the ornament of Italy for beauty and virtue"].

Reverse: Inscribed above "OPVS·MATHEI·DE·PASTIS·[symbol]" and below "·M·CCCC·XLVI·".
ProvenanceBy 1887, Martin Brimmer; 1887, gift of Martin Brimmer to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 1, 1887)