Essays

Model and Medal of Ferrante Loffredo, The Scher Collection

De Divitiis, Bianca

Ferrante Loffredo’s medal is a small object that raises associations with works of a larger scale, as well as transnational and global reflections. The obverse depicts a profile portrait bust of Loffredo, in Roman-style parade armor, with a commander’s sash knotted on the left shoulder; it bears the inscription which recalls his title as Marquess of a town in Campania called Trevico: “FERD[inandus] LOFFREDVS MARCH[io] TRIVICI.” The reverse features a large platform with Ferrante in Roman-style armor and cape standing on the left, while an allegorical female figure, possibly a personification of Truth, walks toward him from the far right, offering a lance at the behest of Emperor Charles V, who is positioned at the center of the scene, also in a cloak and ancient-style armor, crowned with a laurel wreath. This side bears a dedication to the divine emperor Charles V, celebrated as the truth: “DIVI Q[uinti] CAR[oli] CÆS[ari] VERITAS”.

Geographic Areas

Files

  • thumnail for De Divitiis, B. “Ferrante Loffredo”.pdf De Divitiis, B. “Ferrante Loffredo”.pdf application/pdf 13.6 KB Download File

More About This Work

Academic Units
Latin American and Iberian Cultures
Series
Spanish Italy & the Iberian Americas
Published Here
October 12, 2022

Notes

Preferred Citation: De Divitiis, Bianca. “Model and Medal of Ferrante Loffredo, The Scher Collection.” In Michael Cole and Alessandra Russo, eds. Spanish Italy & the Iberian Americas. New York, NY: Columbia University, 2020. [https://doi.org/10.7916/H4HD-M318]