1966.108.8.a
Cosimo Scapti
Artist
Giovanni del Cavino
(1500 - 1570)
Title
Cosimo Scapti
Creation Date
ca. 1500-1599
Century
16th century
Dimensions
1 1/2 in. (3.8 cm.)
Classification
Medals/Plaquettes
Creation Place
Europe, Italy
Medium and Support
bronze
Credit Line
Gift of Amanda Marchesa Molinari
Copyright
Public Domain
Accession Number
1966.108.8.a
Giovanni del Cavino is most well-known (or infamous) for his skillfully executed copies of ancient Roman coinage. However, he also made medals of contemporary sitters. This medal of Cosimo Scapti is similar to an Emperor Commodus “sestertius” Cavino created with the same reverse image of Salus seated on a throne feeding a snake. One can imagine Scapti’s satisfaction of his portrayal in a medal that ascribes a connection to the sestertii of the Caesars.
Object Description
51 COSIMO SCAPTI
Obv. Head to right. Around, COSMVS SCAPTIVS
Rev. Salus seated facing left, facing statue of Bacchus on a column; she gives drink from a patera to a serpent entwined on a vine branch. Around, . PM . TR . P . X IMP VI . COS . III . P . P . ; in exergue, SALVS
Bronze, struck, 38 mm.
The reverse is from Cavino's "sestertius" of Commodus (Lawrence, no. 64).
Bibl.: Arm. i, p. 184, 33; Kress, no. 398; Forrer i, p. 372 (ill.); Lawrence, no. 108 (says statue is Aesculapius).
