Inv. 6469
Death of the Virgin (Dormition); Christ holding the soul of the Virgin; apostles; saint Peter holding a situla (holy water bucket) and an aspergillum; angel giving the Virgin the last sacrament; saint John the Evangelist kissing the Virgin's hand; God the Father with papal tiara making a blessing gesture; orb; angels.
Attribution
Unknown
Polychromy - Gilding
Extensive gilding and polychromy: blue, red, gold, green, pink.
Reverse
Mounted in metal (18th century).
Comments
This medallion has been recognised as one of six which adorned a metalwork monstrance reproduced in the Hallesche Heiltum Codex (Aschaffenburg, Schloss- und Stiftsbibliothek, Ms. 14), produced in 1526/27 for Cardinal Albrecht as a sort of private catalogue of his relic collection. The foot of the monstrance was decorated with enamelled medallions. An angel held a scroll above the ivory medallions with the inscription 'AEIOV' (Austriae est imperare orbi universo).
Provenance
Possibly in the collection of Archbishop Ernst of Saxony (1476-1513); collection of Cardinal Albrecht von Brandenburg (b. 1490, d. 1545), Halle (?): this medallion has been recognised as one of six which adorned a metalwork monstrance that appears in the Hallesche Heiltum Codex (Aschaffenburg, Schloss- und Stiftsbibliothek, Ms. 14), produced in 1526/27 for Cardinal Albrecht as a sort of private catalogue of his relic collection. Collection of Ralph Bernal (b. 1783, d. 1854), London: Bernal sale, Christie & Manson, London, 21 March 1855, lot 1630. Bought by the Museum from Arnold Seligmann, Rey and Co., Paris, 19 January 1929.
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