Highlight from the Lugdunum Auction 24

Lot 2 - Antonio Pisano, called Pisanello

Medallist: Antonio Pisano, called Pisanello, 1395-1455
commemorating Leonello d’Este, Marquess of Ferrara, 1441-1450

Cast bronze medal 1444. (Ø 100,4 mm; 316,72 gr). LEONELLVS MARCHIO ESTENSIS. In two lines across field ; above, GE R AR. Below, D FERRARIE REGII ET MVTINE. Bust left, with short curly hair, wearing rich brocaded dress // OPVS PISANI PICTORIS. On rocky ground, a lion standing right, singing from scroll of music held by nude Cupid left ; in background, tall square pillar on which a mast with inflated sail and M CCCC XLIIII ; in left background, on rocky hill, eagle seen from behind perched on leafless tree.

Suspension hole. minor traces of black varnish. Very fine contemporary cast.

Lot 2 / estimation CHF 15’000/ hammer price CHF 12’000

Reference: Armand I, p. 3, n°8 (Ø 101 mm); Hill, Corpus I, p. 10, n°32 (Ø 100-103 mm); Hill & Pollard (Kress Coll.) n°10 (Ø 103 mm).

Provenance: Collection Franz Trau, Auction Brüder Egger, Vienna (Austria) 11 January 1904, lot n°1226.
Collection Eisler, Auction Hermann Ball, Berlin (Germany) 12 Mai 1930, lot n°45.
Collection of Dr Johannes Jantzen, privately purchased form Dr. Peter Volz in 2003.
Publication of this medal: Museum für Kunst und Kulturgeschichte Dortmund. Deutsche Bronzen des Mittelalters und der Renaissance. Medaillen und Goldschmiedearbeiten. Schloss Cappenberg, 12 April – 17 July 1960. Item n°95.
Sechs Sammler Stellen Aus, Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe Hamburg, 7 April – 11 June 1961. Item n°196.

Born on the 21 September 1407 in Ferrara, as the second illegitimate son of Niccolo III d’Este and his mistress Stella de’ Tolomei, Leonello d’Este became the Marquis of Ferrara, Modena and Reggio Emilia in 1441 at the death of his father and despite the presence of legitimate children.

More than as a ruler of Ferrara, Leonello is known and recognized for his sponsorship of the arts, literature and culture. Under the advice of Guarino da Verona, a humanist teacher arrived in Ferrara in 1429 to create a humanist school, he developed and supported the humanistic cultural movements of the time.

Leonello went to Pisanello to get medallions made so that he would be remembered long after his death, and to demonstrate his fame and power for the present and the future people of Ferrara.

The medal demonstrates the characteristics of Leonello and his court. The Little Lion of Ferrara was designed by Pisanello to look like a Greco-Roman style coin, since Leonello was a collector of them. The Feline image is a play on Leonello’s name, which means little lion. The hair was also designed to look like a lion’s mane, to represent Leonello’s status and nature as marquis.

Highlight from the Lugdunum Auction 24

Lot 2 - Antonio Pisano, called Pisanello

The Singing Lion

Admire the medal in your hands

An ideal ruler & perfect prince

Leonello & Pisanello