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Auction: 390 - Renaissance Plaquettes and Commemorative Medals featuring the Neil A. Goodman Collection - e-Auction
Lot: 86

ANTONIO di PUCCIO PISANO, called PISANELLO (1395-1450)
Leonello d'Este (1407-1450), Marquis of Ferrera, Modena and Reggio Emilia 1441. Medal, Ferrara, ca. 1441. Bronze, 68.2mm. LEONELLVS MARCHIO ESTENSIS (the words separated by three juniper branches), Bare-headed bust in profile right of Ferrara's great sponsor of art, literature and culture wearing a surcoat with scale decoration over mail, rev. Head with three infant faces between two poleyns (genouilliere) -- armored knee guards -- suspended from juniper branches which divide the signature legend: OPVS PISANI. PICTORIS. Hill 24; Johnson/Martini 6; Armand I, 3,4; Bargello I, 7; Hall 12; Kress 6.
The juniper was a favorite plant of Leonello. For his wedding in 1435 to Margherita Gonzaga, a covered way of juniper bushes was planted, while the branches appear on other medals. The triple-faced head on the reverse has been interpreted as the defender of peace and prosperity, Prudence (Hill), and the defender of peace and property (Middeldorf). The image occurs five years later as a shoulder decoration in Pisanello's pen and ink drawing for a medal of Alfonso of Aragon (though it is omitted on the medal). An Extremely Fine old cast.
From the Neil A. Goodman Collection