Category Archives: Italian

Alvise I Mocenigo 1507-1577 doge of Venice


When he was elected in 1570, Venice was preparing for war against the Turks who, eager to take possession of the island of Cyprus , in Venetian hands since 1480 , had set up a powerful fleet to conquer it. In the period 1570-71 things went badly on the island which, soon, despite a hard fight for the possession of Nicosia and the strenuous resistance of Famagusta (where the commander Marcantonio Bragadin , having surrendered with the garrison, was skinned alive), fell into enemy hands.

Engraved by Stefano Scolari circa 1650

Size Oval 33 x 28 cm

 

Price £48.00

 

Ref:3573

King Philip II of Spain medal, cast bronze, 1555 by Jacopo Nizolla da Trezzo

2828aPhilip II of Spain and King of England, complimentary medal, cast bronze, 1555, by Jacopo Nizolla da Trezzo, half-length bust of Philip II, left, in armour, with badge of the Golden Fleece, mantle around his shoulders, + PHILIPPVS AVSTR CAROLI V CAES F PRINC HISP ET ANGL R, rev., Virtue, as a draped female statue stands in a small pool, on her head a vase overflowing with water from two animal heads, around, a group of figures collect the water and drink it, VIRTVS, in ex, NVNQ DEFICIT, beaded border to both sides, 79.5mm (MI 75/26).
An excellent cast, good very fine with pleasant brown patina, pierced twice above head (by R and I of CAROLI), extremely rare.

The portrait type of Philip derives from another medal, signed by Leone Leoni, whilst the reverse comes from a medal dated to 1550-1552, of Gianello della Torre (1500-1585), the celebrated horologist, engineer and architect from Cremona.

Provenance: The Christopher Foley, F.S.A., Collection Of Early English Medals

Price £5750.00

Ref:28

Arcangelo Corelli 1653-1713

3114
Italian composer and violinist of the Baroque era. His music was key in the development of the modern genres of sonata and concerto, in establishing the preeminence of the violin, and as the first coalescing of modern tonality and functional harmony

Artist: Hugh Howard

Size 14 x 9 cms

Price £10.00

Ref: 3114