Lot 138: Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo (c.1514-1589) Gianello della Torre, bronze medal, 81mm., an extremely fine contemporary cast, warm red-brow...

Jacopo Nizzola da Trezzo (c.1514-1589)
Gianello della Torre, bronze medal, 81mm., an extremely fine contemporary cast, warm red-brown patina, pierced at 12 o'clock, trace of black ink number in reverse exergue

Obverse: bare-headed bust in profile to the right, with short thick beard, wearing doublet and coat, IANELLVS TVRRIAN CREMON HOROLOG ARCHITECT

Reverse: The Fountain of the Sciences, a fountain in the form of a draped female figure standing holding a large bowl from which water gushes, is surrounded by seven men and a child who collect or drink the water, VIR - TVS above, NVNQ DEFICIT in exergue

Gianello della Torre (1500-1585), as the inscription here tells us, came from Cremona. He was a watchmaker and engineer. He made a famous clock for Charles V, and his most celebrated feat of engineering was the raising of the level of the Tagus River in 1568.
References
Armand I, 170, 38; Attwood 91; Bargello III, 721; Currency of Fame 55; Gaetani i, pl. XLIX, 1; Hill-Pollard p.97, pl. 18, 8; Humphris 41; Kress 441a; Rizzini 242