An Important Pair of Plaquettes by Valerio Belli

From the Baron de Monville Collection

Valerio Belli (1468-1546). Pair of Trapezoidal Bronze Plaquettes, Christ’s Entry into Jerusalem and Christ in Limbo.

The Entrance into Jerusalem. 100.9 x 63.4 mm. 113.3 grams. Bronze. Molinier 266; Bange 762; Gasparotto 53. Uniface. Deep brown applied patina shows traces of brassy color beneath. A bit of pewter solder is noted at top center of blank reverse. A fine early cast with elegant detail and no sign of chasing, some casting pits but no flaws. Collector mark B.M. incuse stamped, hidden at central base of design near exergue. Beveled edges neatly filed and rounded. A handsome early production. Christ in Limbo . 100.5 x 61.9 mm. 107.8 grams. Bronze. Molinier 279; Bange 770; Gasparotto 60. Legend VALER BELLVS VICETI at left. Uniface. Deep brown applied patina shows traces of brassy color beneath. A bit of pewter solder is noted at top center of blank reverse where a mount has been lost. A fine early cast with excellent detail and good gloss despite fine granularity, a few little hints of dark verdigris within the design. Collector mark B.M. incuse stamped at top of design left of center. Beveled edges neatly filed and rounded. Fine and early. As noted in the 2020 Morton & Eden catalog, "These form part of a series of similarly shaped plaquettes of the Passion of Christ referred to in the Kress catalogue, p. 10, of which The Entombment (Kress 10, fig. 352) is also from the Baron de Monville collection."

From the Santini Collection of Renaissance Medals. Earlier from the Hippolyte Boissel, Baron de Monville (1794-1873) Collection, sold in Paris, January 24, 1861; Frederick Spitzer (1815-90) Collection, sold in Paris, 1893; Morton & Eden's Auction 1, April 2002, lot 537; Morton & Eden's Auction 64, June 2013, lot 623; Morton & Eden's Auction 109, November 2020, lot 19 (at £31,200).

Estimate: $30000.00 - $40000.00