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Nomos 24

22 May 2022
Zunfthaus zur Saffran, Zurich

overview

An Original Struck Medal by Giovanni da Cavino

Estimate: 3000 CHF
Hammer Price:  6000 CHF
Lot 499
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ITALY. Padua. Mid 16th Century. Medallion (Bronze, 34 mm, 27.24 g, 7 h), an original struck example by Giovanni da Cavino (1500-1570). Bearded bust of Hercules facing right, wearing lion's skin knotted at the throat, and a wreath of oak leaves. Bead and reel border. Rev. HEPAKΛEOΣ - ΣΩTHPOΣ / TPAKΩN Club placed vertically; in the field to left, monogram of HB (see the note below) and, on the ground line, the severed head of the Nemean lion to right; in the field to right, bird (an eagle?) with spread wings standing to left and, on the ground line, the severed head of a hound to left. Attwood 1236 (in silver, with a bronze version mentioned). Johnson & Martini, Milano, 2175 (bronze). Toderi Vannel 976. Very rare. An original struck example with a splendid dark brown patina and boldly made types. Virtually as struck.

From the Aviz Collection, ex Numismatica Ars Classica 53, 7 November 2009, 563.

The head of Hercules on this exquisitely made medallion is probably based on a prototype found on an ancient gem, without doubt the one in Florence (Richter, EGGER, II, 264 = Furtwängler AG, pl. XLI 35), while the bird on the reverse is possibly one of the Stymphalian birds, the destruction of which was one of the Twelve Labors of Hercules.

The meaning of the HB initials on the reverse has been discussed widely. Many scholars have ascribed it to a certain "Monogramist HB", but Attwood has pointed out that it was certainly by Cavino, and that the initials surely stand for Hercules Buphiloponus = Hercules, loving labor like an ox), the opening words on the base of a statue of Hercules commissioned by the prominent Paduan art patron Marco Mantova Benavides (1489-1582) from Bartolommeo Ammanati in 1544. Benavides was fond of inventing obscure epithets to describe himself, so the HB undoubtedly is a cipher that refers to him, and tells us that he must have commissioned this medal. This piece has often been wrongly described: Hercules is said to be wearing a laurel wreath (the leaves are clearly oak leaves, just like the Florence gem); and the head on the right on the reverse is termed that of the Erymanthian Boar; which is simply ridiculous. But which hound it is, and why it is here, is uncertain and may well be yet another one of those obscure references Renaissance patrons and artists enjoyed so much.

Online bidding closes: 22 May 2022, 09:00:00 CEST Current Date & Time: 28 Mar 2024, 21:45:13 CET Remaining Time: Closed Hammer Price:6000 CHF

Pre-Bidding closes on 22 Mai 2022 at 9:00 CEST. Live bidding starts at 14:00 CET and is EXCLUSIVELY available on biddr. Separate registration is required.

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