Page 47 - The Lugdunum Auction 24

AMOR VOLUPTAS PULCHRITUDO

Although inspired by Antiquity, the legend
AMOR VOLUPTAS PULCHRITUDO, that we
can translate as Love, Pleasure, and Beauty on the
reverse of the medal was not a reference to the
known traditional ancient goddesses of Beauty,
but rather to the philosophical works of another
important humanist of the time: Marsilio Ficino.

A priest and teacher of Pico della Mirandola,
active in Florence, where, under the protection
of Lorenzo the Magnificent, he founded his Flo-
rentine Academy, as an attempt to revive Plato’s
Academy.

Considered as one of the most important phi-
losophers and humanists of the Italian Renais-
sance, Ficino was not only the first translator of
Plato’s complete work into Latin, he also publis-
hed in 1484, a book with the title “De Amore”
“of Love” whom the legends of this medal make a
direct reference.

Marsilio Ficino (1433-1499)
In his book he describes with the term Pulchritudo, also found in the legend, the highest existing level
of beauty; the beauty that has the ability to attract the three main drivers of the human being: the soul,
the mind and the senses.

Finally, VOLUPTAS, the last word
of the legend, is a direct allusion to
one of the early philosophical
interests of Ficino, the teachings of
Epicurus and Lucretius, and what he
called himself the philosophy of
pleasure.

This exceptional medal can therefore
be seen, as an intemporal echo from
the Renaissance, bringing to our mo-
dern eyes, cast in bronze, the main va-
lues humanism stand for: beauty and
wisdom. Ficino‘s Florentine Academy, a revival of Plato‘s Academy

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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