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Fra Cesario Contughi
Sperandio of Mantua (Italian, 1425–28–died after 1504)
Italian
Renaissance
about 1467
Place of Manufacture: Italy
Medium/Technique
Metal; cast bronze
Dimensions
Diameter and weight: 82 mm (3 1/4 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Martin Brimmer
Accession Number87.74
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismatics – Medals
Catalogue Raisonné
Hill 363.
Kress 115a.
DescriptionCircular medal of Fra Cesario Contughi, Servite of Ferrara. Pierced at top.
Obverse: Profile bust of Fra Cesario Contughi looking to proper right, wearing habit with hood over head; inscribed at edge "FR [with line above "F" and "R"] [·CESARIVS·FER·ORINS·SER·B·N·V (rose) all badly abraided] DIVIN·LIT·EXCELLEN·DOC·AC DIVI·VER·FAMOSIS·PREDICATOR".
Reverse: Fra Cesario Contughi, wearing tunic and with hood over his head, seated on rock, looking three-quarters to proper left. He rests his head on his left hand with a skull on the ground at proper left; inscribed at edge "INSPICE·MORTALE·GENVS·MORS·OMNIA·DELTE" and below "OPVS·SPERANDEI·". Head, hands, and skull badly worn.
Obverse: Profile bust of Fra Cesario Contughi looking to proper right, wearing habit with hood over head; inscribed at edge "FR [with line above "F" and "R"] [·CESARIVS·FER·ORINS·SER·B·N·V (rose) all badly abraided] DIVIN·LIT·EXCELLEN·DOC·AC DIVI·VER·FAMOSIS·PREDICATOR".
Reverse: Fra Cesario Contughi, wearing tunic and with hood over his head, seated on rock, looking three-quarters to proper left. He rests his head on his left hand with a skull on the ground at proper left; inscribed at edge "INSPICE·MORTALE·GENVS·MORS·OMNIA·DELTE" and below "OPVS·SPERANDEI·". Head, hands, and skull badly worn.
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge "FR [with line above "F" and "R"] [·CESARIVS·FER·ORINS·SER·B·N·V (rose) all badly abraided] DIVIN·LIT·EXCELLEN·DOC·AC DIVI·VER·FAMOSIS·PREDICATOR".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "INSPICE·MORTALE·GENVS·MORS·OMNIA·DELTE" and below "OPVS·SPERANDEI·".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "INSPICE·MORTALE·GENVS·MORS·OMNIA·DELTE" and below "OPVS·SPERANDEI·".
ProvenanceBy 1887, Martin Brimmer; 1887, gift of Martin Brimmer to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 1, 1887)