Lot 68: Giovanni Bernardi de Castelbolonese (1496-1553) Battle before a City Gate, oval bronze plaquette, 55mm. x 64mm., brown patina A gro...

Giovanni Bernardi de Castelbolonese (1496-1553)
Battle before a City Gate, oval bronze plaquette, 55mm. x 64mm., brown patina

A group of horsemen issue from a city gate to the left and join in combat with horsemen and foot soldiers. On the far right a foot soldier carries a large rectangular shield on which is the artist's signature IO.B.F. A river god, holding a sceptre and an up-turned vase reclines in the left foreground.
Another oval plaquette which derives from an engraved rock crystal. Vasari notes that a series of oval crystals was commissioned from Bernardi by Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, including one depicting The Capture of Goletta. The famous Cofanetto Farnese, now in the Museo di Capodimonte in Naples, was made by the Florentine silversmith Manno di Mariano Sbarri, and indeed is decorated with six oval rock crystals by Bernardi, but they all depict mythological subjects.

Bernardi was famous for his skill in engraving rock crystal. The stone, of which there is a plentiful supply in the Italian Alps, was only engraved in shallow relief, and was to be viewed from the back. It was very popular with Popes and Cardinals for decorating boxes, candlesticks, liturgical vessels etc. Many plaquettes were cast from these crystals.

References
Bange 1922, 919; Bode 1904, 1235; Cannata 55; Firenze, Bargello, 154; Maclagan p. 70-71; Molinier 338; Naples 113; Rizzini 63; Venice, Museo Correr, 61; Sambon 130pl. VIII