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Auction: 8004 - An Important Collection of Renaissance Medals & Plaquettes
Lot: 28

Moderno (late 15th century) Combat between Horsemen, circular bronze plaquette, 93.5mm., a fine cast of this rare plaquette, medium brown patna, pierced at 12 o´clock, solder in centre of reverse Four horsemen in combat, one wielding a club, another a sword, attack the two others, one falling from his horse beneath the blows from the club, the other attempting to avoid the blow of the sword, a leafless tree behind them, in the distance a sketchy landscape, and in the sky two small clouds A reworking of the famous plaquette by Moderno known traditionally as the Fall of Phaeton. The falling naked figure is taken from a Phaeton sarcophagus, and for this reason Molinier gives it this title. Pope-Hennessy points out that as the youth falls into water and the subject could be the Death of Hippolytus, but as the most popular version of the Phaeton story relates the youth fell into the River Eridanos this is not really conclusive. The original version occurs with a more extensive landscape, though in one example in the Salting Bequest in the Victoria and Albert Museum this is replaced by a façade of a palace or possibly a triumphal arch. There is also a late sixteenth century rectangular variant, and a related Renaissance cameo. In the present version the falling naked figure of Phaeton, and the four horses tumbling in confusion remain, but three other horsemen have been added. Traces of the wheels of the sun god´s chariot can still be seen either side of the falling figure, but the upper half of the plaquette has been completely reworked. The original plaquette is known in many collections, but this version would seem to be very rare, with only one other example known. References This version: Brescia 35 ´The Fall of Phaeton´: Molinier 191, Bange 467 ´The Death of Hippolytus´: Kress 160 For the variant with an architectural background: Molinier 192; Maclagan 33 (museum no.A.434-1910, dated 1475-1500) For later rectangular variant: Hill, British Museum, pp. 109-110 A superb example in the National Gallery of Australia, purchased in 1986 from the British Rail Pension Fund, is given the double title ´The fall of Phaeton´ or ´The death of Hippolytus´ and is dated c.1515. For cameo: Kris I, pl. 14 Estimate £ 600-800

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£550