COSTANZI, CARLO (ltal.). Gem-engraver of the eighteenth century, son of Giovanni Costanzi, was born at Naples in 1703, and worked at Rome, where he acquired celebrity. Mariette mentions that the productions of this clever artist are dispersed all over Europe, and adds : " L'on prétend que personne entre les modernes n'a aussi bien gravé que lui la t?te d'Antinoüs, ce qui est cause qu'on la lui a fait répéter une infinité de fois. Ses copies en ont souvent imposé m?me á des connaisseurs, qui prétendaient ?tre fort clairvoyants ; et tel est l'effet qu'a produit cette belle copie de la Méduse, dont l'original, admirablement grave par Solon, est dans le cabinet de Strozzi (Now in the British Museum), et qui fut exécutée, en 1729, pour M. le cardinal de Polignac. Combien de gens y ont été trompés au premier coup d'?il ? II est vrai que, pour mieux séduire, la copie a été faite sur une calcédoine précisément de m?me grandeur et de m?me couleur que l'original, et que tout, jusqu'au nom de l'ancien graveur, est copié dans la plus grande exactitude. " This artist engraved some diamonds, which, according to BabeIon, show great technical skill ; thus a Leda, and a head of Antinoüs for the King of Portugal. His master-pieces are a cameo-portrait of Cardinal George Spinola, another of the Empress Maria Theresa on a very large oriental sapphire, and a third of Pope Benedict XIV. on a fine emerald. The cutting of this last cameo occupied him two-and-a-half years. By him are also : Leda and the Swan (signed : CAVALIER CARLO COSTANSI) ; — Apollo cithar?dus (EQVES COSTANSI F.) ; — Marsyas (C. C. F.); — Head of young Herakles ; — Cupid breaking thunderbolt; — Head of Alexander the Great; — Bust of Homer (K. KOCTAN) ; — Head of Phocion ; — Head of Poseidon (diamond) ; — Head of Socrates (C. C); — Head of L. Junius Brutus; — Roman bust (COSTANZI); — Charles VI.; — James Stuart, the elder Pretender, carnelian (3 var.); — Sir John Frederick, Bart, (signed : CONSTANCE. ROME, 1737); — Bust of J. Hamilton ; — Lord Duncannon ; — Head of Cicero (CAVALIER CARLO COSTANZI F.), &c. Bibliography. — Babelon, op. cit. — King, op. cit. — Mariette, Traité de la Gravure en pierres fines. — Raspe, Tassie's Gems, 1791.
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
CIGOI, LUIGI
CIGOI, LUIGI (Ital.). Forger of Roman coins, who resided at Udine during the first half of the nineteenth century. He did not engrave dies himself, but invented a clever method of patinating the coins which were struck for him. In order to elude suspicion, he used to mix genuine pieces with his forgeries, and coated them all with dark brown patina; thus many collectors were taken in. This unscrupulous dealer carried on his trade at Trieste and Venice through intermediaries, and also by advertisi...
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CIGOI, LUIGI (Ital.). Forger of Roman coins, who resided at Udine during the first half of the nineteenth century. He did not engrave dies himself, but invented a clever method of patinating the coins which were struck for him. In order to elude suspicion, he used to mix genuine pieces with his forgeries, and coated them all with dark brown patina; thus many collectors were taken in. This unscrupulous dealer carried on his trade at Trieste and Venice through intermediaries, and also by advertisi...
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CIPRIANI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA
CIPRIANI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA (Ital.). Born at Pistoja in 1732, died 14th December, 1785. Designer and Painter; studied under Antonio Domenico Gabbiani, at Florence; came to England in 1755. He was one of the founders of the Royal Academy. The Society for promoting Arts and Commerce issued a number of medals which were designed by Cipriani; the two best known are : The Taking of Louisburg, 26th July 1758 (engraved by I. — Kirk); and Canada Subdued, 1760. " The designs, " for these medals, " were o...
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CIPRIANI, GIOVANNI BATTISTA (Ital.). Born at Pistoja in 1732, died 14th December, 1785. Designer and Painter; studied under Antonio Domenico Gabbiani, at Florence; came to England in 1755. He was one of the founders of the Royal Academy. The Society for promoting Arts and Commerce issued a number of medals which were designed by Cipriani; the two best known are : The Taking of Louisburg, 26th July 1758 (engraved by I. — Kirk); and Canada Subdued, 1760. " The designs, " for these medals, " were o...
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CISEK
CISEK (Austr.). Contemporary Sculptor and Modeller born at Vienna, March 1867, was apprenticed to J. J. Zapf, 1881-1885, then worked under Prof. Stephan Schwartz, 1885-1891 ; still residing at Vienna. I have seen a very beautiful St. Hubert medal in wax by him. This artist exhibited at several very fine medals Frankfort-on the- Main, in April 1900 : St. Hubert Medal ; — St. George Medal; — Portrait of a Lady ; — Portrait of a Boy ; — Female head (a study), &c. Amongst his later works are : Portr...
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CISEK (Austr.). Contemporary Sculptor and Modeller born at Vienna, March 1867, was apprenticed to J. J. Zapf, 1881-1885, then worked under Prof. Stephan Schwartz, 1885-1891 ; still residing at Vienna. I have seen a very beautiful St. Hubert medal in wax by him. This artist exhibited at several very fine medals Frankfort-on the- Main, in April 1900 : St. Hubert Medal ; — St. George Medal; — Portrait of a Lady ; — Portrait of a Boy ; — Female head (a study), &c. Amongst his later works are : Portr...
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CITTADELLA, ALFONSO
CITTADELLA, ALFONSO, surnamed LOMBARDI (Ital.). Died in 1537. Sculptor, who flourished at the beginning of the sixteenth century at Ferrara. His works are dated 1519' and 1529. A medal of Andrea Tectori, a Milanese architect, obv. Bust R. Fortified bridge, bears his signature : ALFONSVS. LOMB. F. Milanesi attributes also to this artist the following medals : Giulia Gonzaga, widow of Vespasiano ; — Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici ; — Molza ; — Pope Paul III. ; — Tebaldeo. From two letters addressed...
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CITTADELLA, ALFONSO, surnamed LOMBARDI (Ital.). Died in 1537. Sculptor, who flourished at the beginning of the sixteenth century at Ferrara. His works are dated 1519' and 1529. A medal of Andrea Tectori, a Milanese architect, obv. Bust R. Fortified bridge, bears his signature : ALFONSVS. LOMB. F. Milanesi attributes also to this artist the following medals : Giulia Gonzaga, widow of Vespasiano ; — Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici ; — Molza ; — Pope Paul III. ; — Tebaldeo. From two letters addressed...
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