Lot 01220

ITALY, Papal States. Rome. Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi), 1655-1667. Medal (Bronze, 97 mm, 164.00 g, 12 h), an original contemporary cast, by Gioacchino Francesco Travani, commissioned by Domenico Jacobacci, and with a portrait after Bernini, 1659. ALEXAND VII P M PIVS OVST OPT SENEN PATR GENTE CHISIVS MDCLIX Bust of Alexander VII to left, wearing cap, mozzetta and stole. Rev. MVNIFICO PRINCIPI DOMINICVS IACOBATIVS / ET FERA MEMOR BENEFICII Scene of Androcles, on the left, wearing Roman armour, advancing right toward a lion, kneeling to left before him; all with an arena with spectators. Bargello 504-505. Börner 1177. Miselli 567. Molinari 96. Whitman & Variano 79. With a fine golden-tan patina, a most attractive piece of the finest possible Baroque style. Minor marks, otherwise, about extremely fine.

From the collection of a Bon Vivant.

This medal has been termed, by Whitman & Varriano, as being “…among the finest examples of medallic art of the seventeenth century”, while Miselli sees it as being the first medal of the Baroque.