Medal — Francis I, France, before 1538
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
before 1538
Medal in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number 683-1865), made in France, dated before 1538, attributed to Cellini, Benvenuto. The museum's brief description reads: Medal, Francis I./warrior striking at Fortune, by Benvenuto Cellini, Italy or France, before 1538.
Museum description: This is a bronze medal made by Benvenuto Cellini, struck in France before 1538. The obverse of this medal represents Francis I, the King of France, wearing laurel wreath, in field left a sceptre with lily finial. The reverse shows a mounted warrior to right, striking at the fallen figure of Fortune. Both obverse and reverse have the pearled borders. The Cellini medal was used by Titian as the portrait source for the painting commissioned by Aretino and given to the King in 1539.
Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) was trained as a goldsmith in Florence. He developed great skill and originality in his techniques. He lived a dramatic but vibrant life which is documented in his autobiography (unfinished, but published in 1728). This book was translated by many writers, one of them Goethe and was the basis for Berlioz' opera 'Benvenuto Cellini' (1837). As a sculptor he has a Mannerist style, which is elaborate, elegant and precious.
He stands for the tragic yet roamantic artist. The museum records it as Bronze, measuring Diameter 4.12 cm. These details come from the museum's own record; how far this object represents a wider collectible type has not yet been independently verified.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Historical context
This is a bronze medal made by Benvenuto Cellini, struck in France before 1538. The obverse of this medal represents Francis I, the King of France, wearing laurel wreath, in field left a sceptre with lily finial. The reverse shows a mounted warrior to right, striking at the fallen figure of Fortune. Both obverse and reverse have the pearled borders. The Cellini medal was used by Titian as the portrait source for the painting commissioned by Aretino and given to the King in 1539. Benvenuto Cellini (1500-1571) was trained as a goldsmith in Florence. He developed great skill and originality in his techniques. He lived a dramatic but vibrant life which is documented in his autobiography (unfinished, but published in 1728). This book was translated by many writers, one of them Goethe and was the basis for Berlioz' opera 'Benvenuto Cellini' (1837). As a sculptor he has a Mannerist style, which is elaborate, elegant and precious. He stands for the tragic yet roamantic artist.
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Dimensions
- Diameter 4.12 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Bronze
- Maker recorded
- Cellini, Benvenuto
- Place recorded
- France
Identification
- Museum object name
- Medal
- Museum object number
- 683-1865
- Museum system number
- O154065
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Research required: confirm the wider type, maker and catalogue references against a specialist reference.