Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index
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Title:
Medal of Cecilia Gonzaga (reverse)
Creator:
Pisanello (Antonio di Puccio Pisano), artist
Description:
The nude personification of Innocence sits in a rocky landscape with a male unicorn that lays its head in her lap. The unicorn could be captured only by a virgin and was therefore a symbol of chastity. To the right is Pisanello's signature.
Source:
Wikimedia Commons
Rights:
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported
Subject
(See Also)
:
Classical Influences
Personification
Unicorns
Virginity
Geographic Area:
Italy
Century:
15
Date:
1447
Related Work:
On the obverse side Cecilia Gonzaga, the daughter of the duke of Mantua, is portrayed in profile. The medal celebrates her chastity. She became a Clarissan nun at the monastery of Santa Paola in Mantua. The medal carries this inscription: CICILIA . VIRGO . FILIA . IOHANNIS . FRANCISCI . PRIMI . MARCHIONIS . MANTVE . Obverse: profile portrait of Cecilia Gonzaga:
http://www.nga.gov/exhibitions/2001/virtuebeauty/fig02.htm
Current Location:
Washington D.C., National Gallery of Art
Original Location:
Artistic Type (Category):
Digital images; Metalwork
Artistic Type (Material/Technique):
Bronze; Medals
Donor:
Height/Width/Length(cm):
//
Inscription:
OPUS/PISAN/I.PICT/ORIS/MCCCCXLVII [Work of the painter Pisanello, 1447]
Related Resources: