Page 36 - The Lugdunum Auction 24

A masterpiece of Renaissance medallic art attributed
to Maffeo Olivieri (1484-1543/44)

This beautiful bronze medal was crafted somewhere
around 1517-1521 to commemorate an important
Italian political figure and Roman Catholic prelate:
Altobello Averoldo (1468-1531).

It is attributed to a bronze-worker of Brescia, Maffeo
Olivieri (1484-1534). Within the medallic produc-
tion of this artist, this medal is considered as one of
the finest achievements.
Born in 1484 as an illegitimate son of an important
Brescian family, Averoldo studied law at Padua whe-
re he obtained a doctorate and was later named bi-
shop of Pola in 1497 by Pope Alexander VI.
At the time of the production of this medal, from
1517 to 1521, Averoldo served as an ecclesiastical di-
plomat, or papal nuncio, in Venice, with the difficult
task of gaining Venetian support for a crusade under
Pope Leo X against the Ottomans.
Altobello Averoldo (1468-1531)

An allegory of Truth or a possible deeper

message ...
On the reverse of the medal, you can see a
beautiful depiction of a scene where Truth,
represented as a nude female figure, is struggling
with two nude men trying to cover her with a veil,
to a corner of which she clings with the right
hand. The legend below VERATI D[icatum],
can be translated as „dedicated to the truth“.

While at first sight this representation could be
interpreted as an allegorical way to depict the
violent human desire to cover or hide truth, a
deeper message, directly linked to Averoldo‘s life,
might be expressed here.
In 1518, a wealthy ten-year old girl, stepdaughter
of a relative of Averoldo, was abducted and
A close-up of the reverse of the medal abused by Camillo Martinengo, a member of an
aristocratic Brescian family and four armed men.
Altobello Averoldo did not hesitate to use his power and influence to have Martinengo condemned and
to unveil the truth about his wrongdoing. His efforts lead to the rescue of the young girl and to the con-
demnation of the five assailants to be banished from the city for periods ranging from three to ten years.
When the sentence was announced, a day-long ball was held in front of Averoldo‘s house on the Grand
Canal to celebrate his help in this tragical event, that might be commemorated here.

If you want to learn more about this exceptional medal, do not hesitate to watch
our special presentation video on our website www.lugdunum-numismatik.com
(Highlights page) or by using this QR-Code

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