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Auction: 390 - Renaissance Plaquettes and Commemorative Medals featuring the Neil A. Goodman Collection - e-Auction
Lot: 160

ITALIAN, early 17th Century
Foundation of the Monastery of Santo Spirito at Cento, 1609. Oval plaquette. Bronze, 139 x 110mm. Traces of silvering. Half-length figure of Father Biagio Bagni greeting a visiting monk, the dove of the Holy Spirit flying above and between them, rev. Within a wreath border, a six-line incised Latin inscription: "In the Month of May 1609 Father Biagio Bagni Prior General of Cento Regular Canon of St. Salvatore [and] visiting Father Mariano of Bologna placed a foundation stone and dedicated [the monastery of] Santo Spirito".
This piece commemorates the construction of the Monastery of Santo Spirito in the town of Cento just outside of Ferrara, which is now the Santuario della Beata Vergine della Rocca. Records show that plaquettes were placed in the foundations of the structure when the first stones were laid. Although he was born in Cento, Biagio Bagni (1563-1625) became a Canonico Regolare of the Church of San Salvatore in Bologna in 1577. Bagni also lived for some time in Rome, where he was promoted by Pope Paul V in 1607 to Canonico Generale of San Salvatore. Returning to his hometown in 1609, Bagni undertook the construction Santo Spirito, awarding an early commission for the high altarpiece to fellow Cento native, the young painter Guercino (1581-1641). In 1615, he was elevated to Priore Generale of San Salvatore and had his portrait painted by Domenichino. Four years later, he began his "Chronicles of Cento" - the first history of the town to be written. The other figure with him, Father Mariano of Bologna, has yet to be identified. A Very Fine contemporary cast. A similar example in Olympia Auction of European Art (London), November 24-25, 2021, lot 402 - £1,200. Ex Sincona Sale 18, May 22-23, 2014, lot 2740.
From the Neil A. Goodman Collection

Sold for
$750

Starting price
$400