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View: Obverse

Leonello d'Este

Antonio Pisano (called Pisanello) (Italian, about 1395–1455)
Italian
Renaissance
after 1444
Place of Manufacture: Italy

Medium/Technique Metal; cast bronze
Dimensions Diameter and weight: 98 mm (3 7/8 in.)
Credit Line Anonymous gift in memory of L. Forrer, Sr.
Accession NumberRES.58.27
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismaticsMedals

Catalogue Raisonné Hill 32. Kress 10.
DescriptionCircular medal of Leonello d'Este (born 1407, marquess of Ferrara 1441-50). Posthumous cast of original issued to commemorate his marriage to Maria of Aragon, daughter of King Alfonso of Naples (April 1444).

Obverse: Profile bust of Leonello d'Este looking to proper right; inscribed above "·GE·R·AR·", across field "LEO NELLVS·MARCHIO/·ESTE NSIS·", and below "·D·FERRARE·REGII·ET·MVTINE·".

Reverse: Cupid at proper left shows scroll to lion at proper right on rocky ground; in background is pedestal with mast and sail ontop and eagle perched on tree; inscribed at proper left "·OPVS·/PISANI·PICTORIS·" and on the column "M/CCCC/XLIIII".
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed above "·GE·R·AR·" ["Son-in-law of the king of Aragon"], across field "LEO NELLVS·MARCHIO/·ESTE NSIS·" ["Leonello Marquess d'Este"], and below "·D·FERRARE·REGII·ET·MVTINE·" ["Lord of Ferrara, Reggio, and Modena"].

Reverse: Inscribed at proper left "·OPVS·/PISANI·PICTORIS·" and on the column "M/CCCC/XLIIII" ["1444"].
Provenance1958, anonymous collector; 1955, given by this anonymous collector to the MFA. (Accession date: March 13, 1958)