Lot 199: [ ITALIAN MEDALS ]

ALESSANDRO CESATI called IL GRECHETTO (c. 1500-after 1564) Pope Julius III (1550-1555), silver medal for the Jubilee, 1550, signed in Greek and Latin, composed of two thin uniface silver trial strikings set within a heavy bronze circular frame, LAQVEVS CONTRITVS EST (Psalm CXXIII, v.7), a prisoner holding his broken fetters stands between two men, one holding an inscribed scroll; in ex., broken fetters and a scroll and signed A E, rev., IVLIVS III PONT MAX AN IOBILEI, the opening of the Porta Santa; signed below, ALEXANDER F, 63mm including frame (cf. Bargello 539/540 = Toderi/Vannel 2081/2082; Attwood p. 381), about extremely fine (the edge of the frame with traces of a scroll mount having been removed)

Provenance: Morton & Eden, 27 June 2006, lot 401. Extremely rare. The Bargello possesses six thin silver strikings of a similar nature to the present piece, two of which are described as being in a bronze frame (Bargello 540a). They are thought to be trial strikings of medals that were never put into production. As Attwood relates, Vasari described the obverse of the present piece as 'con un rovescio di quei prigioni che al tempo degli antichi erano ne' lor giubilei liberati; che fu bellissima e rara medaglia' ('with a reverse of those prisoners who in ancient times were released during their Jubilees; it was a very beautiful and rare medal'). Alessandro Cesati, called Il Grechetto, was a celebrated medallist and gem-engraver whose work was admired by no less a figure than Michelangelo. According to Vasari, Michelangelo, commenting on one of Cesati's medals of Paul III, said that the 'hour of the death of the art had come, for it could not be done better'.