Renaissance Medallion – “the Forges Of Vulcan,” Southern German School, 16th Century

Southern German school, second half of the 16th century, circa 1573

Lead medallion depicting The Forges of Vulcan, showing the god of blacksmiths busy shaping Cupid’s wings, based on a composition by Martin van Heemskerck (1498–1574), popularized through an engraving by Cornelis Bos (c. 1506/1510–c. 1555).

At the center of the composition, Vulcan, surrounded by three blacksmiths, is forging Cupid’s wings on an anvil. Nearby, Venus watches over Cupid. In the background, a city is visible on the banks of a river. The work as a whole reflects the Renaissance taste for mythological subjects, rendered with great narrative richness and a strong sense of composition.

This type of lead plate is characteristic of the output of the Nuremberg and Augsburg workshops in the late 16th century. Among the artists associated with this production is Jonas Silber, who was active between 1560 and 1590.

The attribution of this design varies depending on the collection and the author: the Louvre attributes an identical example to Master A.M., while other sources associate it with the monogramist AZ. Hans Jamnitzer has also been suggested by some authors.

Comparable examples are held in prestigious public collections, notably at the Musée national de la Renaissance, the Château d’Écouen, and the Louvre (inv. OA 546).

With its mythological subject, patina, and significance for the history of Renaissance medallions, this medallion is a remarkable example of the art of small-scale relief in 16th-century Europe.

Dimensions: diameter 16.9 cm.

Bibliography:

– Ingrid Weber, Niederländische und Französische Renaissance-Plaketten 1500–1650, vol. I, Munich, p. 240, no. 475.
– Bertrand Bergbauer, The National Renaissance Museum’s Collection of Plaquettes, Paris, RMN, 2006, p. 98.

Price excludes shipping costs

Police Registry Ref.: A257

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