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Auction: 8004 - An Important Collection of Renaissance Medals & Plaquettes
Lot: 98

Baldassare d´Este (active 1461-1504) Ercole I d´Este, rectangular bronze plaquette, 82mm. x 53mm., 84.3mm. high including suspension, an old cast with dark brown patina, two piercings at top for suspension Obverse: bare headed bust of Ercole in profile to the left, hair long and straight, wearing tunic with pleated front and large jewel on breast, incuse legend above and to the sides, HER - FERE - DVX, date in relief below .1472. Reverse: blank Ercole I (1431-1505), Marchese d´Este, second Duke of Modena, Reggio and Ferrara, legitimate son of Niccolò III, succeeded his brother Borso in 1471. The portrait is taken from the signed medals by Baldassare d´Este. On the original medals Ercole is bare-headed as here but is wearing armour, and on later casts he is wearing a cap. On all the plaques recorded the cuirass has been changed to the pleated dress we see here. References For similar plaques: Armand III, 168 A; London, Victoria and Albert Museum 1177-64; Kress 37; Middeldorf 16; Paris, Louvre, 467 For medal: Armand I, 52, 2; Heiss p.40, 1; Hill 99; Johnson-Martini 26 Estimate £ 400-600

Sold for
£480