Nomos 5

Bohemia. 1546. Medal (Silver, 55mm, 38.28 g 12), bearing representations of the Last Supper and the Last Judgment, by Nickel Milicz and his workshop in Joachimsthal. DESIDERIO.DESIDERAVI.HOC.PASCHA.MANDVCARE.VOBISCUM.9V.LV.XII (actually, Luke XXII, 15 = with desire I have desired this pasch with you, before View of Christ and the Disciples at the Last Supper; below, 1546. Rev. VIGILATE 9VIA NESCITIS 9VA HORA DOMINVS VETVRVS EST 9VARE MAT 2 4 (based on Matthew 24.42, watch ye therefore, because you know not what hour your Lord will come) Christ seated facing on a rainbow in the clouds with the globe of the Earth, covered in stars; in the clouds to His left and right, and below on the ground below the globe of the earth, crowds of naked men and women awaiting the Last Judgment. Donebauer 4340. Katz 347. Attractively toned and clear. Tiny scratch on the obverse, otherwise, an impressive piece and, extremely fine.

The reverse of this medal is based on an engraving that was made by Hans Lützelburger in the late 1510s or early 1520s (he died in 1526) after an original by Hans Holbein the Younger. These had been meant as illustrations for a Bible translated by Martin Luther, but only 41 of the set had been made by the time of Lützelburger’s untimely death and they began to be issued as individual prints in the 1520s. In 1538 they were published in book form, but as solely by Lützelburger without mention of Holbein. However, the printing blocks formed part of Holbein’s estate when he died in 1543.