Medal: Bust of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta

Matteo de' Pasti

model 1447 (possibly cast 15th or 16th century) · Copper alloy with a warm brown patina. · Robert Lehman Collection

An Italian medallist, architect, painter, and illuminator, Matteo de Pasti resided at the court of Rimini by 1449, where he worked on the construction and decoration of two large funerary chapels (1447–c. 1452) for Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, and Isotta degli Atti (his mistress and then third wife) in S Francesco (known as the Tempio Malatestiano). Like Pisanello, who had produced medals for the Malatesta, Matteo was also active as a medallist at the Rimini court. The obverse of this medal shows a portrait of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta (1417 – 1468), lord of Rimini, condottiere, and patron of the arts. On the reverse is a portrait of Isotta degli Atti (1432/33 – 1474), Sigismondo’s third wife. This work unites the obverse of a Sigismondo medal with the reverse taken from a medal with Isotta’s portrait, an unusual combination (see also 1975.1.1284). This is an early aftercast, possibly of the fifteenth or sixteenth century.

Artist

Matteo de' Pasti

Date

model 1447 (possibly cast 15th or 16th century)

Medium

Copper alloy with a warm brown patina.

Department

Robert Lehman Collection

Credit line

Robert Lehman Collection, 1975