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Auction: 390 - Renaissance Plaquettes and Commemorative Medals featuring the Neil A. Goodman Collection - e-Auction
Lot: 21

NICCOLÒ SPINELLI, called NICCOLÒ FIORENTINO (1430-1514)
Antonio Geraldini of Amelia (1448/9-1489). Medal, Florence, ca. 1485/6. Bronze, 66.3mm. ANTONIVS.GERALDINVS.PONTIFICIVS.LOGOTHETA.FASTORVM.VATES, Bust right wearing tight-fitting cap, rev. RELIGIO.SANCTA., Allegorical figure of Religion standing left holding a cornucopia and swinging a censer; signed below .OP.NI.FO.SP.FL. Hill 924; Armand I, 84, 2. Geraldini moved between Italy and Spain in humanist, courtly and clerical circles. He was crowned poet-laureate in 1479 and became secretary and adviser to John II and Ferdinando d'Aragona, as well as Spanish ambassador at Florence and Rome, 1485-1486. Geraldini was appointed protonotary (logotheta) by Innocent VIII, whose two medals by Spinelli were made in 1485 and share similar reverse figures to this medal. Over 150 medals have been attributed to Fiorentino, and yet he appears to have signed only five, of which this is one.
Hill records just two examples of this medal (in Florence and Turin). Pierced at 12 o'clock; the fields smoothed and edge filed. Nevertheless, a pleasing and very fine contemporary cast with glossy brown patina. Extremely Fine. Ex Lawrence 'Larry' Stack, Morton & Eden Sale 41, December 9, 2009, lot 108; Ex "An Important Collection of Renaissance Medals and Plaquettes", Spink, Sale 193 (London), January 24, 2008, lot 123.
From the Neil A. Goodman Collection

Sold for
$1,800

Starting price
$1400