Medal — Gianfrancesco Gonzaga di Rodigo, Italy, ca. 1500-1510
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
ca. 1500-1510
Medal in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London (museum number 739-1865), made in Italy, dated ca. 1500-1510, attributed to Antico. The museum's brief description reads: Medal, bronze, Gianfrancesco Gonzaga di Rodigo, by Antico, Italian (Mantua), ca.
1500-1510. Museum description: This is a bronze medal made by Pier Jacopo Alari-Bonacolsi, called Antico (ca. 1460-1528) in Italy, about 1500-1510. The obverse of this medal represents Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, Count of Rodigo, Lord of Bozzolo, Sabbionette and Gazzuolo. The reverse shows a blazing hearth with the motto 'Honesty should be praised'. The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708. Giangrancesco Gonzaga di Rodigo was an able military commander who passed much of his early life as a soldier in the service of Ferrante, King of Naples.
He was the third son of Ludovico Gonzaga, second Marchese of Mantua. In Naples he met his future wife the cultivated Antonia de Balzo (1441-1538), daughter of Pirro, Prince of Altamura and they were married in 1479, in which year Gianfrancesco was made Count of Ródigo, and Lord of Bozzolo, Sabbioneta, Viadana and Gazzuolo in the territory of Mantua. They made their seat in the rocca of Bozzolo, where until Gianfrancesco's death in 1496 they kept a… The museum records it as Bronze, measuring Diameter 3.81 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 Pier Jacopo Alari-Bonacolsi, called Antico (ca. 1460-1528) in Italy, about 1500-1510. The obverse of this medal represents Gianfrancesco Gonzaga, Count of Rodigo, Lord of Bozzolo, Sabbionette and Gazzuolo. The reverse shows a blazing hearth with the motto 'Honesty should be praised'. The Gonzaga family ruled Mantua in Northern Italy from 1328 to 1708. Giangrancesco Gonzaga di Rodigo was an able military commander who passed much of his early life as a soldier in the service of Ferrante, King of Naples. He was the third son of Ludovico Gonzaga, second Marchese of Mantua. In Naples he met his future wife the cultivated Antonia de Balzo (1441-1538), daughter of Pirro, Prince of Altamura and they were married in 1479, in which year Gianfrancesco was made Count of Ródigo, and Lord of Bozzolo, Sabbioneta, Viadana and Gazzuolo in the territory of Mantua. They made their seat in the rocca of Bozzolo, where until Gianfrancesco's death in 1496 they kept a brilliant court. After his death Antonia retired to the rocca of Gazzuolo, where she lived until her death in 1538 at the age of ninety-seven, known to the Gonzaga family as the 'mother of all'. Antico (Pier Jacopo di Antonio Alari-Bonacolsi) (ca. 1460-1528), was an Italian sculptor and goldsmith. He was nick-named Antico, because in his work he related heavily to Antiquity. He re-created small scale statuettes of famous antique examples. He was active at the Gonzaga court at Mantua and made many…
Physical characteristics
- Material
- bronze
- Dimensions
- Diameter 3.81 cm
Technical characteristics
- Technique
- Bronze
- Maker recorded
- Antico
- Place recorded
- Italy
Identification
- Museum object name
- Medal
- Museum object number
- 739-1865
- Museum system number
- O154146
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.