1966.104.9.a
Stefano Taverna, (died 1499), Secretary to the Duke of Milan
Artist
Niccolo Fiorentino (Niccolo di Forzore Spinelli)
(Florence, 1430 - 1514)
Title
Stefano Taverna, (died 1499), Secretary to the Duke of Milan
Creation Date
ca. 1495-1497
Century
late 15th century
Dimensions
3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.)
Classification
Medals/Plaquettes
Creation Place
Europe, Italy
Medium and Support
bronze
Credit Line
Gift of Amanda Marchesa Molinari
Copyright
Public Domain
Accession Number
1966.104.9.a
Niccolo Fiorentino ranks among the most prolific and influential Florentine medalists of the fifteenth century, as he is credited for 148 medals (although only five are signed). Fiorentino’s medals are characterized by their bold, high-relief portraits, although his reverses have been criticized for a lack of imagination in their interpretation of ancient motifs. Despite such critiques, this cast medal of Stefano Taverna, Secretary to the Duke of Milan, featuring the allegorical depiction of Virtue separating Love and Chance on the reverse, exemplifies an aspiration on the part of many Renaissance artists to add nuance to their portrayal of celebrated sitters through the interplay between obverse and reverse imagery.
Object Description
24 STEFANO TAVERNA (d. 1499), Secretary to the Duke of Milan
Obv. Bust to left. Around, STEPHANVS . TABERNA . SECRETARIVS . ET ORATOR . ILLVSTRISS . DVCIS . MEDIOLANI .
Rev. Virtus in armor, holding Love to left and Fortune to right, by the hair. Around, . VIRTVTI . OMNIA . PARENT .
Bronze, 79 mm.
Stefano Taverna is noted in Florence in 1486-87 and in Rome in 1489, 1491-92, and 1496-99. In 1497 he be- came Archbishop of Parma. His title on the medal indicates that it was made before he became archbishop. Hill and Middeldorf suggest a date about 1495-97. Attributed to Niccolo Fiorentino
Bibl: Corpus, no. 1019; Arm. 2, p. 56,13; Morgenroth, no. 104; Habich, pl. 39, 3.
