Lot 158: [ ITALIAN MEDALS ]

GIOVANNI DA CAVINO (1500-1570) Hercules, bronze medal, head of Hercules right, lion-skin tied around neck, wearing wreath of poplar leaves, rev., Lichas presenting the shirt of Nessus to Hercules; in the background, an arch; in exergue, HB monogram and eagle, 41mm (Attwood 298; Gorini, 'New Studies on Giovanni da Cavino', StHist 21, 1987, p. 47, fig. 3; Toderi/Vannel 975; Lawrence 76; Pollard 468 = Kress 411), a very fine contemporary cast with dark patina

Formerly attributed to the HB monogrammist, the initials on the medal have since been identified as standing for 'Hercules Buphiloponus' (Hercules, 'loving labour like an ox'). These are the first words of the inscription found below Ammanati's statue of Hercules in the courtyard of Marco Mantova Benavides' house in Padua. Cavino's head of Hercules is taken from an ancient Roman intaglio.