ABONDIO, ANTONIO, THE YOUNGER (Ital.). Painter, Sculptor, Medallist and Wax-modeller, born at Milan in 1538 (?), died at Vienna, on the 22nd May, 1591 . His father, Alessandro Abondio, descended from a noble family of Ascanio near Locarno, was a pupil of Michelangelo. Under him, the young Antonio was initiated in the art of modelling, and it would seem that he worked, for a time at least, under the great medallist, Leone Leoni. — Antonio accompanied his father to Bohemia, and soon obtained a good position at the court of Maximilian II. After having been allowed a monthly pension of 20 florins, which later was raised to 33, he received on the 28th February 1574 confirmation of his titles of nobility with permission to modify his arms. Rudolf II. continued to bestow on the artist the favours extended to him by his father ; he however left the court after a few years, sojourned at Vienna and Coburg, then entered the service of the Duke Maximilian of Bavaria. In 1582 he returned to Prague, where the King reinstated him in his former office of engraver and painter to the court. The last mention which is made of him in contemporary documents is dated 1590 and relates to the payment for some work he had just executed. Antonio Abondio is styled in contemporary documents : " Contratecter und wirklicher im Kais. Hofstaat publicirter Diener. " The medals of Antonio Abondio, which are generally signed AA or AN-AB, date between 1567 and 1587, and are characterized by firmness of design and energy of expression. The artist distinguished himself also, like his father, in wax-modelling, sculpture and painting ; several representations of mythological subjects are attributed to him. On a medal of Nicolas de Madruzzo, bearing on the obv. the portrait of this renowned General of Charles V., we find the signa ture AN-AB, with a reverse attributed by Vasari and Cigognara to Leone Leoni. The best known medals engraved by Antonio Abondio are those of Ferdinand III., Maximilian I. and II., 1575 (2 var.) of Germany ; — Mary of Austria, consort of Maximilian II. (2 var. one illustrated), and Rudolf II., 1577, &c. (4 var.); — Emperor Ferdinand I. and Maria, 1575 ; — Archdukes Charles of Austria, son of Ferdinand I. 1577, Ernest, Mathias, 1577 and 1582, Maximilian, Albert, and Wenceslaus, 1577, sons of Maximilian II.; — Emperor Rudolf III., 1588 and 1591 (5 var.);' — Ferrabosco Pietro, Italian painter and architect; — Leonard IV. von Harrach, Baron of Rohrau (1514-1590) and his consort, Barbara von Windischgrätz ; — Dr Thomas Jordan (1520 † 1585) of Brunn, Moravia; — John, Baron von Khevenmüller (1538-1580) (2 var.) ; — Cordula Lindegg († 1586), wife of Kaspar von Wratislaw, Baron von — Pernstein (1530-1582); Caterina Riva; — John Frederick II., Duke of Saxe-Gotha (1529-1595); — Elizabeth of Bavaria, the latter's consort (1541-1594); — Dr Girolamo Scotti of Piacenza (2 var.); — Paul Sixtus, Baron von Trauthson († 1621); — Jacopo da Trezzo, engraver and medallist; — Alb. Thuem (born in 1530); — Antonius Wranczy, of Sabenico, primate of Hungary (1504-1573); —Dr Sebastian Zäh of Augsburg, and his wife, Suzanna Schlechtin (2 var.); — William II. (or V.) of Bavaria (1548-1626) (2— var); Prince Ernst of Bavaria, Bishop of Freising (1554-1612); — Antonio Francesco Doni, a Florentine (1513-1574); — Giulio Gonzaga Bozzolo (1552-1609); — Madonna, without R;—Antonius Muys; — Guido Panziruolo, of Reggio (1523-1599); —Baldassaro de Ravoyra, seigneur della Croce in Savoy ; — Giulio Rossi (?) of Carpi; Albrecht Dürer, &c. Mr. T. W. Greene possesses a medal ot Abondio with portrait on obv. and R. plain. The following are also attributed to the same medallist : Crato von Craftheim, of Breslau, physician to Ferdinand I., Maximilian II., and Rudolf II.; — Hieronymus Wurmprant (1512-1597); — Archduke Maximilian, fourth son of Maximilian II. ; — Udalricus, Abbot of the Monastery of Ste Croix ; — Michael von St. Anna of Augsburg; — Joseph Zoppl v. Haus and Euphrosina Salin von Hirschberg; — Caspar Lindegg von Lizzana, 1573 ; — Hieronymus Scotti, of Coburg, Alchemist. Antonio Abondio occupies a rank of honour among the celebrat ed medallists of his age. He has ingeniously introduced in his art a mixture of the German and Italian ideas and immortalized his name by a wonderful gallery of most beautiful portraits. " Was Abondio's Arbeiten auszeichnet " remarks Dr Habich, ist eine sehr anmutige Verbindung des vornehm-reprasentativen romanischen Zugs in Haltung und äusserer Anordnung mit einer wohl durch deutsche Medaillenvorbilder verstarkten Intimität des Naturstudiums, das sich namentlich im Physiognomischen bewahrt. " Bibliography — Armand, Les médailleurs italiens des XV et XVI siécles, Paris, 1885. — J. Bergmann, Medaillen berühmter Männer des österreichischen Kaiserstaaes. — Nagler, Die Monogrammisten, Munich, 1881. — Meyer, Allgemeines Künstler-Lexikon. — Bolzenthal, Kunstgeschichle der modernen Medaillen Arbeit, 1840. —Grande Encyclopédie, vol. I, p. 104. — Dr Horatio Storer, Catalogue of his Collection of Medical Medals, — Fabriczy, op. cit. — Schweizerisches Künstler-Lexikon.
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
Source: Biographical dictionary of medallists; coin, gem, and seal-engravers, mint-masters, ancient and modern, with references to their works B.C. 500-A.D. 1900; compiled by L. Forrer, London 1904
KÖNIG, ANTON FRIEDRICH
KÖNIG, ANTON FRIEDRICH (Germ.). Son of the last; born at' Breslau, in 1773, and also a Medallist. His early life was spent at Berlin, but in 1824 he settled at Dresden. To him are ascribed the following medals : Centenary of Pomerania's homage prestation, 1821 (signed : F. KÖNIG FEC.) ; — Rebuilding of the town of Gnesen destroyed by fire, 1823 ; — Silver Wedding of Leopold Frederick, Duke of Anhalt, and Frederike née Princess of Prussia ; — Portugalöser with bust of the Prince Elector Joachim,...
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KÖNIG, ANTON FRIEDRICH (Germ.). Son of the last; born at' Breslau, in 1773, and also a Medallist. His early life was spent at Berlin, but in 1824 he settled at Dresden. To him are ascribed the following medals : Centenary of Pomerania's homage prestation, 1821 (signed : F. KÖNIG FEC.) ; — Rebuilding of the town of Gnesen destroyed by fire, 1823 ; — Silver Wedding of Leopold Frederick, Duke of Anhalt, and Frederike née Princess of Prussia ; — Portugalöser with bust of the Prince Elector Joachim,...
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LEONI, LODOVICO
LEONI, LODOVICO called IL PADOVANINO or IL PADOVANO (Ital.). Painter, Modeller in wax, Medallist, and Coin-engraver, born at Padua in 1531; died at Rome in 1606; some say in 1612. He executed Portrait-medallions in wax, besides painting in oil and fresco landscapes and historical subjects. He is said to have been employed as Engraver at the Mint of Rome, circa 1573-1586; notwithstanding, only one of the many medals of Pope Gregory XIII. bears his signature L. PADOVAN. ; others may be looked for...
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LEONI, LODOVICO called IL PADOVANINO or IL PADOVANO (Ital.). Painter, Modeller in wax, Medallist, and Coin-engraver, born at Padua in 1531; died at Rome in 1606; some say in 1612. He executed Portrait-medallions in wax, besides painting in oil and fresco landscapes and historical subjects. He is said to have been employed as Engraver at the Mint of Rome, circa 1573-1586; notwithstanding, only one of the many medals of Pope Gregory XIII. bears his signature L. PADOVAN. ; others may be looked for...
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AATZ, JOSEPH
AATZ, JOSEPH (Germ.). Master or Inspector of the Electoral Mint of Mayence, during the bishopric of Frederick Charles Joseph von Erthal (1774-1802). His initials I. A. appear on various coins, among which the most noteworthy are the following : Ducat of 1795, Convention thalers of 1794 (2 var.), and 1795, and on a medal, engraved by Fred. Stieler on the Defeat of the French under General Jourdan, 1795, by General Count von Clairfait. Bibliography. — Reimmann Münzen u. Medaillen-Cabinet, Ad. Hess...
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AATZ, JOSEPH (Germ.). Master or Inspector of the Electoral Mint of Mayence, during the bishopric of Frederick Charles Joseph von Erthal (1774-1802). His initials I. A. appear on various coins, among which the most noteworthy are the following : Ducat of 1795, Convention thalers of 1794 (2 var.), and 1795, and on a medal, engraved by Fred. Stieler on the Defeat of the French under General Jourdan, 1795, by General Count von Clairfait. Bibliography. — Reimmann Münzen u. Medaillen-Cabinet, Ad. Hess...
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ABBO
ABBO (French). Merovingian Moneyer, who worked at Chalons circa A.D. 593, and later at Limoges, circa A.D. 604. In the Cuerdale find a curious piece was met with, bearing on obv. the legend ABBO MONET or MANET, and a Merovingian bust, and on R. a cruciform monogram. The Vicomte Ponton d'Ame-court, and after him Mr. Kenyon, in his Gold Coins of England, concluded that Abbo worked as moneyer in England and that he was one of the Franks who accompanied St Augustine to England, in 596 or 597. It is ...
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ABBO (French). Merovingian Moneyer, who worked at Chalons circa A.D. 593, and later at Limoges, circa A.D. 604. In the Cuerdale find a curious piece was met with, bearing on obv. the legend ABBO MONET or MANET, and a Merovingian bust, and on R. a cruciform monogram. The Vicomte Ponton d'Ame-court, and after him Mr. Kenyon, in his Gold Coins of England, concluded that Abbo worked as moneyer in England and that he was one of the Franks who accompanied St Augustine to England, in 596 or 597. It is ...
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