Lot 782
782
Cardinal Andreas Corsini, bishop of Sabina (1735-95), silver medal by Tommaso Mercandetti, undated (c.1777), bust left, signed T.M.F. on truncation, rev. HONORI ET VIRTVTI, hour-glass in a wreath, 44.5mm. (Forrer IV, 29; see Franco Bartolotti, Le medaglie di Tommaso Mercandetti (parte prima), in Medaglia 2, pp.18-37 and no.55), fields tooled, very fine, very rare
Cardinal Andreas Corsini, bishop of Sabina (1735-95), silver medal by Tommaso Mercandetti, undated (c.1777), bust left, signed T.M.F. on truncation, rev. HONORI ET VIRTVTI, hour-glass in a wreath, 44.5mm. (Forrer IV, 29; see Franco Bartolotti, Le medaglie di Tommaso Mercandetti (parte prima), in Medaglia 2, pp.18-37 and no.55), fields tooled, very fine, very rare

Details
Cardinal Andreas Corsini, bishop of Sabina (1735-95), silver medal by Tommaso Mercandetti, undated (c.1777), bust left, signed T.M.F. on truncation, rev. HONORI ET VIRTVTI, hour-glass in a wreath, 44.5mm. (Forrer IV, 29; see Franco Bartolotti, Le medaglie di Tommaso Mercandetti (parte prima), in Medaglia 2, pp.18-37 and no.55), fields tooled, very fine, very rare

Lot Essay

A rare example in silver of the first important commission undertaken by the Roman medallist Tommaso Mercandetti (1758-1821), who at the age of fourteen opened a small shop in 18 via de'Coronari, next to the piazza Navona, before finding employment at the Papal mint under the patronage of Baldassare Cortini.
Forrer dates the medal to 1780, but a slightly earlier date is now accepted. Forrer also mistakenly identifies the sitter as 'later Pope Clement XII'. Andrea Corsini was nominated bishop of Sabina 16 July 1776, and the medal was certainly commissioned to celebrate his appointment.