Pope Sixtus IV (obverse), and the Ponte Sisto (reverse) / Lysippus
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1984/1.285
- Title
- Pope Sixtus IV (obverse), and the Ponte Sisto (reverse)
- Artist
- Lysippus
- Artist Nationality
- Italian
- Artist Life Dates
- active 1471-1484
- Medium and Support
- cast bronze
- Object Creation Date
- 1473
- Object Creation Place
- Europe (continent)
- Italy (nation)
- Lazio (region)
- Roma (province)
- Rome (inhabited place)
- Creation Place 1
- Europe (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Italy (nation)
- Creation Place 3
- Lazio (region)
- Creation Place 4
- Roma (province)
- Creation Place 5
- Rome (inhabited place)
- Credit Line
- Museum Purchase
- Style/Group/Movement
- Renaissance
- Inscription
- Obverse: Sistus IIII Pont. Max. Sacricultor Reverse: Cura Rerum Publicarum
- Dimensions
- 4.1 cm x 4.1 cm x 4.1 cm (1 5/8 in. x 1 5/8 in. x 1 5/8 in.)
- Century
- 15th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Metalwork
- Primary Object Type
- coin
- Physical Description
- The front (obverse) of this medal depicts the profile portrait of a man with a tonsure, wearing a cope adorned with acorns and oak leaves and a large clasp. An inscription runs around the border. The reverse represents a bridge spanning a river enclosed within a border of oak leaves. An inscription appears above the balustrade of the bridge.
- Subject Matter
- This masterful portrait of Pope Sixtus IV captures in bold relief his physical appearance and shrewd, worldly intelligence. Sixtus IV sought to strengthen papal authority in Rome, continuing the policy begun by his predecessor Nicholas V. Papal sponsorship of public works within the city of Rome served as a foundation for this policy. The reverse of this medal depicts one of the most significant public works undertaken by Sixtus IV, the Ponte Sisto, which was the first bridge since Antiquity to be built across the Tiber River.
- Primary Keywords
- bridges (built works)
- bronze (metal)
- casting (process)
- medallions (medals)
- popes
- portraits
- profile views
- Secondary Keywords
- image form
- buildings and the land
- christian clergy
- clergy
- copper alloy
- copper and copper alloy
- descriptors
- forming
- inorganic material
- materials
- materials by composition
- medals
- metal
- metal and metal products
- metal by composition or origin
- nonferrous metal
- objects we use
- people
- people (agents)
- people and culture
- people by occupation
- people in religion
- people in religion and related occupations
- people in the humanities
- prelates
- processes and techniques
- processes and techniques by specific type
- single built works
- single built works by function
- single built works by specific type
- transportation structures
- transportation structures by form
- views
- views by vantage point or orientation
- visual works
- visual works by form
- visual works by subject type
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 519 x 409
- File Size
- 24 KB
- Record
- 1984/1.285
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1984-sl-1.285/1984_1.285obv.jpg
Rights and Permissions
Related Links
Portfolios
- In public portfolios
IIIF
- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1984-SL-1.285:1984_1.285OBV.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Pope Sixtus IV (obverse), and the Ponte Sisto (reverse); Lysippus." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1984-sl-1.285/1984_1.285obv.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 19, 2024.
