Gianfrancesco I Gonzaga (obverse); Gianfrancesco on Horseback (reverse)

Inscriptions

obv: Inscribed, top edge: CAPIT.MAXIARMICERORVM.; inscribed, bottom edge: PRIMVS.MARCHIO.MANTVE; inscribed, center, left to right: IOHANES.FRANCISCVS. / DE.GONZAGA. rev: Inscribed, top center: OPVS / PISANI / PICTO / RI / S.

Label

Medals were essential communicators of dynastic ambitions in northern Italian court cities. Rulers such as the d’Este and Malatesta families began as mercenary generals (condottieri) who sought to transform their military proficiency into permanent political positions. By the 15th century, both families were well established. Artistic exchange was key to their self-image and intermarriage. The visual language of their medals strengthened the families’ claims to power by celebrating powerful alliances, monumental building initiatives, praiseworthy virtues, connections to historical and contemporary rulers, and even divine vows.

From the 2024 exhibition Living with Sculpture: Presence and Power in Europe, 1400–1750, curated by Elizabeth Rice Mattison, Andrew W. Mellon Curator of Academic Programming and Curator of European Art, and Ashley B. Offill, Curator of Collections

Course History

ARTH 84, Media and Meaning in Renaissance Sculpture, Adrian Randolph, Fall 2013

SART 27, SART 28, SART 74, Printmaking I, Printmaking II, Printmaking III, Louise Hamlin, Spring 2014

ITAL 14, Introduction to Italian Culture, Tania Convertini, Fall 2021

ITAL 1.01, Introductory Italian I, Giorgio Alberti, Fall 2022

ITAL 1.02, Introductory Italian I, Andrea Zoller, Fall 2022

ITAL 1.03, Introductory Italian I, Andrea Zoller, Fall 2022

Italian 1.02, Introductory Italian I, Andrea Zoller, Winter 2023

Italian 1.01, Introductory Italian I, Giorgio Alberti, Winter 2023

Italian 11.01, Intensive Italian, Giorgio Alberti, Winter 2023

Art History 7.05, Pompeii: Antique & Modern, Ada Cohen, Winter 2023

Italian 2.01, Introductory Italian II, Andrea Zoller, Winter 2023

Italian 2.02, Introductory Italian II, Matteo Gilebbi, Winter 2023

History 44.02, Arts of Power, from Augustus to the Sun King, M. Cecilia Gaposchkin, Spring 2023

Italian 1.01, Introductory Italian 1, Giorgio Alberti, Fall 2023

Italian 1.02, Introductory Italian 1, Marco D'Angelo, Fall 2023

Italian 1.03, Introductory Italian 1, Floriana Ciniglia, Fall 2023

Italian 1.04, Introductory Italian 1, Noemi Perego, Fall 2023

Italian 2.01, Introductory Italian II, Marco D'Angelo, Fall 2023

Italian 1.01, Introductory Italian 1, Giorgio Alberti, Winter 2024

Italian 1.02, Introductory Italian 1, Floriana Ciniglia, Winter 2024

Italian 2.01, Introductory Italian II, Giorgio Alberti, Winter 2024

Italian 2.02, Introductory Italian II, Noemi Perego, Winter 2024

Studio Art 17.08, Digital Drawing, Karol Kawiaka, Winter 2024

Studio Art 17.08, Digital Drawing, Karol Kawiaka, Winter 2024

Geography 29.01, Global Cities, Erin Collins, Spring 2024

Geography 29.01, Global Cities, Erin Collins, Spring 2024

History 42.01, Women's Gender, and Sexuality Studies 22.01, Gender & European Society, Patrick Meehan, Spring 2024

History 96.39, Saints and Relics, Cecilia Gaposchkin, Spring 2024

Italian 1.01, Introductory Italian I, Noemi Perego, Spring 2024

Italian 11.01, Intensive Italian, Floriana Ciniglia, Spring 2024

Italian 2.01, Introductory Italian II, Floriana Ciniglia, Spring 2024

Italian 3.01, Introductory Italian III, Tania Convertini, Spring 2024

Italian 3.02, Introductory Italian III, Giorgio Alberti, Spring 2024

Exhibition History

From Altarpiece to Portrait: Assembling a European Collection, Harrington Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, January 26, 2019-September 6, 2020.

Ivan Albright Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, July 18, 2001-April 7, 2002.

Ivan Albright Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, September 3, 1999-September 22, 2000.

Living with Sculpture: Presence and Power in Europe, 1400–1750, Citrin Family Gallery and Engles Family Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, March 23, 2024–March 22, 2025.

Rembrandt: Master of Light and Shadow; Etchings from the Collection of the Hood Museum of Art, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, April 8-September 17, 2006.

Renaissance and Mannerist Plaquettes and Medals from the Collection of Roger Arvid Anderson, Class of 1968, Ivan Albright Gallery, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, September 19-November 21, 2013.

The Power of Appearances: Renaissance and Reformation Portrait Prints and Medals, Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, October 7-December 3, 2000.

Publication History

Roger Arvid Anderson, The Roger Arvid Anderson Collection, Medals, Medallions, Plaquettes and Small Reliefs, Paintings, Sculpture, Works on Paper and Textiles, San Francisco: Roger Arvid Anderson (published privately), design by David L. Wilson, 2015, p. 6-7.

Roger Arvid Anderson, The Roger Arvid Anderson Collection, Medals, Medallions, Plaquettes and Small Reliefs, Paintings, Sculpture, Works on Paper and Textiles, San Francisco: Roger Arvid Anderson (published privately), design by David L. Wilson, 2015, p. 10-11.

Provenance

Acquired by Roger Arvid Anderson, San Francisco, California, date unknown; lent to present collection, 1993; given to present collection, 2016.

Catalogue Raisonne

Kress, No. 2, p. 7; Hill Corpus, No. 20

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