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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Iosephus, post: 2605052, member: 71955&quot;]<b>Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>by Bartolomeo Vaggelli, 1709</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1086.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1086.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1086.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><i>Bronze, 89.0 mm Ø</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b>Obverse:</b> Bust of Pietro Ottoboni facing right, wearing zucchetto and cardinal&#039;s cape. Around, · PETRVS · CARD · OTHOBONVS · S · R · E · V · CANCELL · . Under truncation, · BART · VAGGELLIVS · F · .</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reverse:</b> Poetry kneeling, at right, among books; holding musical instruments in her right hand and focusing the rays of the sun with her left. At left, a winged genius runs forward, holding a cornucopia in his right hand and a laurel wreath in his left. Around, · COELESTIS · ORIGO · . In exergue, · MDCCIX · .</p><p><br /></p><p>Pietro Ottoboni was born in 1667 in Venice. The grandnephew of Pope Alexander VIII (also born Pietro Ottoboni), he was named cardinal in 1689. With the wealth and privilege that came with his position, Ottoboni was a patron of scholars and artists, collector of paintings and books, and composer some sacred dramas and speeches. He was Dean of the College of Cardinals at the beginning of conclave of 1740, and was considered as a papal candidate. However, he died on February 29, 1740, shortly after the conclave began.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reference:</b> Vannel &amp; Toderi (Toscana) n. 355</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Antonio Vallisnieri</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>by Antonio Selvi, 1713</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1097.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1097.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1097.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><i>Bronze, 86.4 mm Ø</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b>Obverse:</b> Bust of Antonio Vallisnieri facing right, wearing long curly wig and draped cloak. Around, ANTONIVS · VALLISNERIVS · PVB · PRI · PAT · PRO . Under truncation, 1713 · .</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reverse:</b> Nature standing, at right, near table at which Curiosity sits, at left, containing insects, seeds, and fruits. Behind, arches and the arms of the Vallisnieri family on a pillar. At the sides and middle, various animals. Around, TANTVM · IN · MODICIS · QUANTVM · IN · MAXIMIS . In exergue, A · SELVI · F ·</p><p><br /></p><p>Antonio Vallisnieri was born in 1661 in Trassilico. A physician and naturalist, Vallisnieri became professor of medicine and natural history at the University of Padua in 1700. He was a member of the Accademia dei Curiosi della Natura and performed research on insect reproduction. His discoveries were gathered in a work, <i>Osservazioni e dissertazioni sulla fisica, la medicina e la stora natural</i>, which was published posthumously by his son in 1733. Vallisnieri died in 1730 in Padua.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reference</b> Vannel &amp; Toderi (Toscana) n. 142</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b>Giancarlo de&#039; Medici</b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p>by Antonio Selvi</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1083.jpg" target="_blank" class="externalLink ProxyLink" data-proxy-href="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1083.jpg" rel="nofollow"><img src="http://www.renaissancemedals.com/pics/1083.jpg" class="bbCodeImage wysiwygImage" alt="" unselectable="on" /></a></p><p><i>Bronze, 86.4 mm Ø</i></p><p><i><br /></i></p><p><b>Obverse:</b> Bust of Giancarlo de&#039; Medici facing right, wearing zucchetto and cardinal&#039;s cape. Around, IOAN · CAROLVS · CARD · MEDICES · .</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reverse:</b> A ship sailing left. Around, VASTVM . PRIVS . ÆQVOR . ARANDVM . .</p><p><br /></p><p>Giancarlo de&#039; Medici, born in 1611 in Florence, was the second son of Cosimo II de&#039; Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. In 1638, as a member of the Military Order of Malta, he was named General of the Mediterranean Sea. In 1644 he was named cardinal by Pope Innocent X. Little inclined to religious life, he was turned away from Rome due to his standard of living and returned to live in Florence. A lover of art and a great patron, Giancarlo assembled a large collection of paintings. He died in 1663 in Florence.</p><p><br /></p><p>This medal is one of an extensive series by Selvi commemorating previous members of the Medici family.</p><p><br /></p><p><b>Reference:</b> Vannel &amp; Toderi (Toscana) n. 333[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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