Summary

Copy of the obverse (uniface) of a medal of Cecilia Gonzaga (1426-1451). The original medal was by Pisanello in 1447. This Electrotype copy of the obverse was made circa 1881 by Robert Ready. This electrotype was not part of the British Museum's King's Gallery Exhibition of 1881. It's acquisition by the National Gallery of Victoria and thus Museum Victoria is yet to be traced.

Note: the Museum holds a uniface electrotype of the reverse of this medal type but it was taken from a different original with a diameter some 2 mm smaller than this example.

Obverse Description

Half-length bust of Cecilia facing left, hair tightly bound with a ribbon, wearing an embroidered gown and pleated skirt; around, CICILIA . VIRGO . FILIA . IOHANNIS . FRANCISCI . PRIMI . MARCHIONIS . MANTVE

Reverse Description

Not held, (but see NU 38313 for the design - A rocky landscape below a crescent moon, a semi-nude young woman rests her hand on the head of a unicorn lying beside her, to the right, a stele, with a floral ornament fixed to its top, bears the inscription OPVS / PISAN / .I. PICT / ORIS / .M. / CCCC / XLVII)

Edge Description

Plain

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