Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 7018 - Dr R Ferrari English Crowns, R Wilson Scottish Coins, A Louise Irish Coins, K MacKenzie Ottoman Coins & Other Propertie
Lot: 662

Girolamo Cardano (1501-76), bronze portrait medal attributed to Leone Leoni, 49mm., hier cardanvs aetatis an xlviiii, bearded bust right, wearing shirt and loose open gown, rev. mountainous countryside with figures dancing towards a fruiting vine, oneipon in exergue (Armand II, 162, 21; Bargello III, 720; Kress 436a; Mus.Mazz. I, pp.360-361, pl.lxxx, iv), dark brown patina with light yellowish highlights, a superb contemporary casting Estimate £ 600-800 Girolamo Cardano was a physician, mathematician and astrologer, as well as a prolific writer and poet. This medal shows him in his 49th year when he was professor of Medicin at the University of Padua. Cardano was at this time at the peak of his career. In 1552 he became court physician to John Hamilton, the last Archbishop of Saint Andrews (who was hung, in his pontifical vestments, in 1571) and also physician to King Edward VI of England. The reverse of this medal illustartes a dream of 1534 described by Cardano in his autobiography De Vita Propia, cap.37. Cardano made a study of dreams, and also practiced the casting of horoscopes. In 1570 he was arrested and jailed on charges of heresy. Among other crimes he was accused of casting the horoscope of Jesus Christ.

Sold for
£650