- Personage:
-
Ludovico III Gonzaga
Ludovico III Gonzaga, Il Marquess di Mantua, born in 1414; became Marquess of Mantua in 1444 until his death in 1478.
- Artist:
-
Antonio Pisano (known as Pisanello)
—
Painter and Sculptor, 1395-1455.
He was born in Pisa, worked in Rimini, Venice, Naples, Ferrara and Mantova. Pisanello is considered ‘The Creator’ of the Renaissance medals.
- Description:
-
Obverse: LVDOVICVS · DE · GONZAGA, in two lines across the field. Above: CAPITANEVS · ARMIGERORVM; below: MARCHIO · MANTVE · ET · CET. Bust facing left, with close-cropped hair, wearing plate-armour over shirt of mail.
Reverse: OPVS · PISANI PICTORIS on left side. Scene: In a field setting, the Marquess is in full armour (with closed visor and globular crest) and riding to the right. A baton rests on his right knee with a radiant sun at left and a sun-flower on stock at right.
- Background:
-
This medal was cast in either 1447 or 1448 when Lodovico was “Capitano Generale” of the Florentine troops.
- Diameter:
- 99 mm. (Max. Diameter reported: 108 mm.); Bronze cast.
- Evaluation:
- Obverse displays better patina with very little wear. Particularly thin cast.
- Reference:
- Hill 36.