Nomos 23

ITALY, Papal States. Rome. Federico Cesi, Cardinal, 1561. Medallion (Copper, 35 mm, 35.75 g, 5 h), by Gianfederico Bonzagna (1507-1588), active in Rome, from the 1550s through the 1570s. FEDERICVS.EPS.PRENESTIN.S.R.E.CARDIN.CAESIVS Bearded and tonsured bust of Cardinal Cesi to left, wearing hooded cassock. Rev. DIVE.CATHERINE.TEMPLVM.ANNO.CHRISTI / MDLXI Facade of the church of S. Caterina dei Funari in Rome. Attwood 959. Attractive and richly toned with a fine portrait of the Cardinal. Some minor deposits, otherwise, extremely fine.

Federico Cesi (1500-1565) was elected Bishop of Todi in 1523 (consecrated in 1524) and first became a cardinal in 1545 and was also, among other things, Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina from 1557 to 1562, He helped finance the rebuilding of the Church of S. Catherine of the “Rope Makers” (dei Funari) in 1560-1564. It had been turned over to the Jesuits in 1534 and became the headquarters of a confraternity for the saving of ‘poor, homeless maidens’ who were, in fact the daughters of either very poor families or prostitutes. The church itself is famous for its elaborately decorated interior, which included works by A. Carracci and G. Muziano.