19th Century Bronze Medal Michelangelo Buonarroti by Santarelli Florence Italian Art Medal

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A finely cast bronze medal honoring Michelangelo Buonarroti, executed in 1812 after the model by the distinguished Florentine medallist Giovanni … Read more A finely cast bronze medal honoring Michelangelo Buonarroti, executed in 1812 after the model by the distinguished Florentine medallist Giovanni Antonio Santarelli (1769–1826).

The obverse presents a commanding right-facing bust of Michelangelo in high relief, the sculptural treatment of his hair, beard, and drapery demonstrating Santarelli’s mastery as both engraver and sculptor. Encircling the portrait is the Italian inscription “Michel più che mortal angel divino”—a poetic tribute positioning Michelangelo as more than mortal, an almost divine figure of artistic genius. The work is signed Santarelli f.

The reverse features three elegantly intertwined laurel wreaths, a classical symbol of artistic triumph and honor. Surrounding text reads “Levan di terra al ciel nostr’intelletto”, evoking the elevation of human intellect from earth to the heavens through art.

Dated MDCCCXII (1812), the medal reflects the tradition of the Florentine Academy of Fine Arts, where such works were associated with prizes awarded to promising young artists in major competitions—linking the piece directly to the academic and cultural reverence for Michelangelo in early 19th-century Italy.

Santarelli, one of the leading medallists of his time, produced works depicting figures of royalty, aristocracy, and members of the Bonaparte family. His medals are held in major institutional collections, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Museo Nazionale del Bargello (Florence), and the Bibliothèque nationale de France (Paris), among others.

A classic Grand Tour object—scholarly, sculptural, and deeply rooted in the legacy of Renaissance Florence.

Details:
-Artist: Giovanni Antonio Santarelli (after)
-Subject: Michelangelo Buonarroti
-Date: 1812 (MDCCCXII)
-Origin: Florence, Italy
-Medium: Bronze (edge marked “bronze”)
-High relief casting with finely detailed engraving
-Original collector’s reference card included (Paris, June 1954)
-Approximate Dimensions: 2.25"D See less