Baldwin's of St. James's
Auction 43 25 Mar 2020
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A Collection of Papal Medals and Coins, Francesco Maria Brancaccio (1592-1675; Cardinal 1633), cast bronze medal, 1636, by Johann Jacob Kornmann, called Cormano, tonsured bust r., wearing cope, FRANC. MARIA. S.R.E. CARDINALIS BRANCATIVS, rev. landscape with bees nesting in the body of a lion, QVIS NOS SEPARABIT, beaded border to both sides, 79.25mm. (T&V, Bargello, 21; cf. Clifford 265, uniface, obv. only; Pollard 2007 [Kress 482], uniface – now believed to be an electrotype; BDM.III, 207), small piercing in outer rim above C of CARDINALIS, a contemporary cast of excellent quality, nearly extremely fine
The medal's reverse depicts the riddle of Samson (Judges 14: 14), 'Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness'. The British Museum has an example with the same reverse but the legend changed to, NEC IPSA IN MORTE RELINQVAM. Cardinal Brancaccio was a patron of the arts and whilst in Rome he formed the Biblioteca Brancacciana which was later moved to Naples, forming the city's first public library. It is now a part of the National Library of Naples.
(600-800 GBP)
The medal's reverse depicts the riddle of Samson (Judges 14: 14), 'Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness'. The British Museum has an example with the same reverse but the legend changed to, NEC IPSA IN MORTE RELINQVAM. Cardinal Brancaccio was a patron of the arts and whilst in Rome he formed the Biblioteca Brancacciana which was later moved to Naples, forming the city's first public library. It is now a part of the National Library of Naples.
(600-800 GBP)