Details

LOT 588

Medieval Bronze 'Cardinal Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza' Seal Matrix

1473-1493 AD

2 1/4" (144 grams, 57 mm).

A substantial cast heraldic seal matrix, discoid in plan, with concentric ropework lines to the reverse and one similar to the 7mm edge; to the obverse, a heraldic design of a heater shield divided diagonally with hatched panels and the text 'AVE' and 'MAR' (for 'Maria'), surmounted by a cardinal's hat with looped ornamental cords with tassels to the sides; above the shield a Spanish marques's coronet, below it, scrolled feathers and punched-point detail; surrounding the whole a circular band interrupted by the crown of the hat bearing the text in seriffed capitals 'PETRUS GONZALEZ DE MENDOZA CARDINALIS HISPANIAE' for Cardinal Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza of Spain. We have been advised that Mr. Miguel F. Gómez Vozmediano, Chief of References of the Historical File of the Nobility in Spain, and a team of experts of the University Complutense of Madrid, led by the Dean of the Faculty of Information Science, Mr. José María de Francisco Olmos have examined the piece physically, they have concluded that the piece is genuine of the XV century and it is possibly a seal matrix for private use of the Cardinal Pedro González de Mendoza.

Provenance

From an old European collection.

Footnotes

Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza (born 3 May 1428, died 11 January 1495) was a Spanish cardinal and statesman, born into the noble family of Lopez de Mendoza, marquesses of Santillana, Spain. He was chosen by King John II to be bishop of Calahorra in 1452, and accepted the Pope's bulla in 1454. As bishop he was also civil and military ruler of the town and its territory, and led the army of Calahorra in the civil wars of the reign of King Henry IV. In 1473 Mendoza was raised to the rank of cardinal, promoted to the archbishopric of Seville and designated chancellor of Castile. During the conquest of Granada, he contributed to the support of the army, and in January 1492 he occupied the town in the name of the Catholic rulers of Spain. Although more of a soldier and statesman than cleric, the 'Great Cardinal' fulfilled his role as a bishop who used his influence with the royal court and in Rome to settle disputes between the Spanish sovereigns and the Vatican. As an archbishop, Mendoza lived stylishly, provided for his many children, and devoted part of his income to charity. He endowed the college of Santa Cruz at Valladolid University, was an advocate of Christopher Columbus at court and was instrumental in securing financial support for the explorer's trans-Atlantic voyage. Archbishop Mendoza fell ill late in 1493/4 and died a year later. His biography was written by Salazar de Mendoza under the title Cronica del gran cardinal Don Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza, and published in Toledo in 1625.

CONDITION