1966.109.1.a
Antonio Sarzgnella De’Manfredi, of Faenza, diplomat
Artist
Sperandio of Mantua
(Mantua, 1425/31 - 1504)
Title
Antonio Sarzgnella De’Manfredi, of Faenza, diplomat
Creation Date
ca. 1463
Century
mid-15th century
Dimensions
2 5/8 in. x 1 13/16 in. (6.7 cm. x 4.6 cm.)
Classification
Medals/Plaquettes
Creation Place
Europe, Italy
Medium and Support
bronze
Credit Line
Gift of Amanda Marchesa Molinari
Copyright
Public Domain
Accession Number
1966.109.1.a
The “plaquette portrait” (the medal format seen here) was unique to the fifteenth-century court of the Este family in Ferrara. The production of “plaquette portraits” included casting and hand carving the portrait medal into an oblong shape. The majority of plaquettes that follow this format, including this example of diplomat Antonio Sarzanella de’ Manfredi of the Este Court by Sperandio, are mostly comprised of copper. This composition allows the medal to be malleable enough to carve. Circular medals depicting de’Manfredi have larger concentrations of zinc, creating a harder brass product.
Object Description
10 ANTONIO SARZANELLA DE' MANFREDI, of Faenza, diplomat
Obv. Bust to right, wearing robe and mortier
Without reverse
Bronze, old aftercast, 67 mm. x 46 mm.
A cutout from the medal by Sperandio (Corpus, no. 358; Kress, no. 113). No plaquette version of the medal is recorded. Sarzanella, a diplomat in the Estensi service, was in Ferrara in 1463, and the original medal was probably made then.
