2x Bronze Plaquette - Christ And Saint Paul - 16th Century Renaissance Haute Epoque 16

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Pair of bronze plaquettes, Christ and Saint Paul, Rome, late 15th early 16th century

These two plaquettes show busts in rather high relief and a latin text on the reverse. The same laurels wreath, similarity of the used font, and the same tendency to run words together show that these two plaquettes constitute a pair from the beginning. 

The obverse of the first one depicts a bust of Christ to the left, crowned by cruciferous halo decorated with circles in the arms of cross. Christ is represented with a retreating forehead, thick fleshy nose and lips, a short beard with a moustache which leaves the upper lip bare. Long hair is made of thin locks that fall as curls on shoulders. On the edge: " ▼IHS▼XPC▼SALVA  TOR▼MVNDI " (Jésus Savior of Men Christ Savior of the World). On the reverse, a laurels wreath knotted at the bottom borders this six lines text: " TU ES CHRISTVS FILIVS DEI VIVI QVI IN HVNC MVNDVM VENISTI " (You are the Christ son of the living God who are come in this world).

The obverse of the second plaquette represents a bust of Saint Paul to the right and crowned by thin circular halo. He wears a tunic fastened with a spherical brooch on right shoulder. The short hair is made of thick locks, and long beard falls to the tunic. On the edge: " ▼PAULVS APOSTOLVS▼VAS ELECTIONIS▼ " ( Paul Apostle, Instrument of my Choice ). On the reverse, a laurels wreath knotted at the bottom borders this seven lines text: " BENEDICITE IN EXCELSIS DEO DOMINO DE FONTIBVS ISRAEL IBI BENIAMIM ADOLESCENTVLVS IN MENTIS EXCESSV " (Bless in the highest God the Lord, heirs of Israel. Here is Benjamin, the youngest, who outshines them all).

Réf: G.F. Hill, the Medallic Portraits of Christ, pp.20-22 (type "d" & type "e")
        National Gallery of Art, 1957.14.837  et  1957.14.838

Excellent condition, light patina, a fixing hole at the top of each plaquette.

Diameters: 9,2 cm (Christ) and 8,9 cm (Saint Paul).