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Giovanni Bentivoglio II
Sperandio of Mantua (Italian, 1425–28–died after 1504)
Italian
Renaissance
about 1480–82
Place of Manufacture: Italy
Medium/Technique
Metal; cast bronze
Dimensions
Diameter and weight: 91 mm (3 9/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Martin Brimmer
Accession Number87.79
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope
ClassificationsNumismatics – Medals
Catalogue Raisonné
Hill 391.
Kress 128.
DescriptionCircular medal of Giovanni Bentivoglio II, lord of Bologna (1443-1508).
Obverse: Profile bust of Giovanni Bentivoglio II looking to proper left, wearing a tall round cap with edge turned up all round, long hair, and armor over mail and inscribed at edge "[flower] IO·BENT·II·HANIB [line abve "A" and "B"]. FILIVS·EQVES·AC·COMES·PATRIAE ["A" and "E" elisioned together]·PRINCEPS·AC·LIBERTATIS·COLVMEN ["M" and "E" elisioned together]".
Reverse: Giovanni in armor, wearing a similar cap as on obverse, sword at side, riding to proper right on horse; behind him, is a mounted squire seen from the front, with tall crest of globe and plumes on his helmet, holding lance in his right hand; inscribed at edge "OPVS·SPERANDEI".
Obverse: Profile bust of Giovanni Bentivoglio II looking to proper left, wearing a tall round cap with edge turned up all round, long hair, and armor over mail and inscribed at edge "[flower] IO·BENT·II·HANIB [line abve "A" and "B"]. FILIVS·EQVES·AC·COMES·PATRIAE ["A" and "E" elisioned together]·PRINCEPS·AC·LIBERTATIS·COLVMEN ["M" and "E" elisioned together]".
Reverse: Giovanni in armor, wearing a similar cap as on obverse, sword at side, riding to proper right on horse; behind him, is a mounted squire seen from the front, with tall crest of globe and plumes on his helmet, holding lance in his right hand; inscribed at edge "OPVS·SPERANDEI".
InscriptionsObverse: Inscribed at edge "[flower] IO·BENT·II·HANIB [line abve "A" and "B"]. FILIVS·EQVES·AC·COMES·PATRIAE ["A" and "E" elisioned together]·PRINCEPS·AC·LIBERTATIS·COLVMEN ["M" and "E" elisioned together]" ["Giovanni II Bentivoglio, son of Annibale, knight and count, first of his country and supporter of liberty"].
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "OPVS·SPERANDEI".
Reverse: Inscribed at edge "OPVS·SPERANDEI".
ProvenanceBy 1887, Martin Brimmer; 1887, gift of Martin Brimmer to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 1, 1887)