Antonio Pisanello was both a painter and medallist, and these medals show him adapting subjects and compositions originally invented for paintings.

Pisanello's painting 'The Vision of Saint Eustace' shows the saint being stopped in his tracks while out hunting by a vision of a stag with a crucifix between its antlers.

Pisanello adapted the story, and the composition, to create this medal. It commemorates the visit of the Byzantine Emperor John VIII to Ferrara in Italy in 1438. The emperor was attending a council which attempted (unsuccessfully) to overcome the differences between the Greek and Latin churches. John VIII, famously addicted to hunting, is arrested by the sight of a crucifix in much the same way as Saint Eustace.

Top: Pisanello, 'Portrait medal of John VIII Palaeologus, Emperor of Constantinople' (reverse), about 1394?-1455 © The Victoria and Albert Museum.

Bottom: Detail from Pisanello, 'The Vision of Saint Eustace', about 1438-42.

Previous | Next