MAZZAFIRRI, MICHELE (Ital.). Florentine Medallist, born circ. 1530, died about 1597. He was attached to the Court and person of the two successors of Cosimo I. and especially to the third Grand Duke, Ferdinand III., of whom and his consort, Christine of Lorraine, no less than eleven medals are known by him. He was really a Goldsmith by profession, and attained greater celebrity in that branch than in medallic art, although none of his works of plate and jewellery have come down to us, and are only known from documentary evidence. The filigree-like delicacy of the elaboration of all the accessories marks them as the works of a goldsmith's hand, and v. Fabriczy notices that the artist's fame as a goldsmith surpassed that of the medallist, documents proving that he received a great number of commissions for goldsmith's work. The following medals bear the artist's signature, which occurs in various forms : MI. MA ; — M. M. ; — MICHE. M. ; — MICHELE MAZA. F., etc. : Vincenzo I., fourth Duke of Mantua, Bust to r. ; beneath : MI. MA. R. Shield of arms; — Francesco I. de' Medici; obv. Bust to r. ; beneath : M. M. 1577. MAIOR . AGIT. DEVS. Constellation of the Ram ; — Another, with different R (Vide C. von Fabriczy, op. cit., p. 90); — Ferdinand I., Third Grand Duke of Tuscany ; obv. Bare head to r. ; beneath : M. M. 1587. R. St- Stephen's cross; — Another, same date; R. A . DNO . FACTVM . EST.ISTVD. St. Stephen's cross ; — Another, 1588; signed on obv. : MICHE. M. (a). R. VIRTVTIS PREMIA Grand Ducal crown; — (b) R. MAIESTATE TANTVM. Queen bee and swarm ; (c) R. PVBLICAE SECVRITATI. Plan of the fortress of Livorno,- beneath : A.S.CIC.IC.XV ; — Another, 1588; signed on obv. MICHELE. MAZA F; R. SIC ITVR AD ASTRA. Herakles stunning the centaur Nessus (illustrated) ; — Another, with similar obv. and R. Cross of St. Stephen; — Another, with similar obv. R. MAIESTATE TANTVM. Plan of the fortress of Livorno; — Another, with obv. : FERDINANDVS MED.MAGN.DVX. ETRVRI?.III. Cuirassed bust to r. and same R. type as last; — Christine of Lorraine (1565 † 1636). Obv. CHRISTIANA. PRINC. LOTHAR.MAG.DVX.HETR. Bust to r. ; R. FRVCTVM.LVMENQVE- PVDORIS. Ear of corn surrounded by seven stars (illustrated); — Another, with obv. legend : CHRISTIANA. P. D. L.GRAN.DVC.DI TOSCA. ; — Christine and Ferdinand, 1592. Obv. Bust of Ferdinand ; R. Bust of Christine to r. ; — Another, of same date; R LBust of Grand Duchess Christine to l. The portraits of the Tuscan Grand Dukes by Mazzafirri are of very lifelike and powerful execution. Bibliography. — A. Heiss, Les Médailleurs de la Renaissance. Florence et la Toscane, Paris, 1892. — Cornelius von Fabriczy, Medaillen der italienischen Renaissance, 1903. — Armand, op. cit. — Blanchet, op. cit., II, 370. — Supino, op. cit. — Bolzemhal, op. cit. — Keary. British Museum Guide to Italian Medals, 1892.
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
MARSHOORN, GERARD
MARSHOORN, GERARD (GERRIT) (Dutch.). Medallist of Haarlem, first half of the eighteenth century. His signature is found on various medals, and he worked for the Hereditary Stadholder, Willem IV. The Portrait-pieces of Lorenz J. Coster, typographer of Haarlem (1740) are his best known productions, and I have seen by him also Portrait-medals of Prince Willem Karel Hendrik Friso, 1747, on his first Stadholderate; (sev. var.) — Commemorative medals of the Treaties of Peace of Münster and Aix-la- Cha...
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MARSHOORN, GERARD (GERRIT) (Dutch.). Medallist of Haarlem, first half of the eighteenth century. His signature is found on various medals, and he worked for the Hereditary Stadholder, Willem IV. The Portrait-pieces of Lorenz J. Coster, typographer of Haarlem (1740) are his best known productions, and I have seen by him also Portrait-medals of Prince Willem Karel Hendrik Friso, 1747, on his first Stadholderate; (sev. var.) — Commemorative medals of the Treaties of Peace of Münster and Aix-la- Cha...
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MARSCHALL, RUDOLPH FERDINAND
MARSCHALL, RUDOLPH FERDINAND (Austr.). Contemporary Medallist, born at Vienna on the 3rd of December 1873 ; studied at the School of Engraving under Professors Schwarz, Schulmeister, and Zapf. In 1891 he was awarded a First Prize (silver medal) by the Commercial and Industrial Institute of Lower- Austria ; then the bronze and silver medals of the Engravers' Association, for modelling, drawing and engraving. After an absence of some duration, during which Marshall visited the principal artistic c...
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MARSCHALL, RUDOLPH FERDINAND (Austr.). Contemporary Medallist, born at Vienna on the 3rd of December 1873 ; studied at the School of Engraving under Professors Schwarz, Schulmeister, and Zapf. In 1891 he was awarded a First Prize (silver medal) by the Commercial and Industrial Institute of Lower- Austria ; then the bronze and silver medals of the Engravers' Association, for modelling, drawing and engraving. After an absence of some duration, during which Marshall visited the principal artistic c...
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MARTEAU, FRANCOIS JOSEPH
MARTEAU, FRANCOIS JOSEPH (French). Goldsmith and Medallist of Paris, circ. 1720-1759. He engraved several medals, usually signed : MARTEAU F. or F. M., of the Series of medals of Louis XIV. and XV. Marteau's best known medals are : Battle of Fontenoy, 1745 (signed : J. M. on obv. and M on R; illustrated); — French Campaign of 1745 (R. by J. C. Roettiers); — Battle of Rocoux, 1746(R by J. C. Roettiers); — Battle of Lawfeldt, 1747 (sev. var.) ; — Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748 (R. by J. C. Roettie...
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MARTEAU, FRANCOIS JOSEPH (French). Goldsmith and Medallist of Paris, circ. 1720-1759. He engraved several medals, usually signed : MARTEAU F. or F. M., of the Series of medals of Louis XIV. and XV. Marteau's best known medals are : Battle of Fontenoy, 1745 (signed : J. M. on obv. and M on R; illustrated); — French Campaign of 1745 (R. by J. C. Roettiers); — Battle of Rocoux, 1746(R by J. C. Roettiers); — Battle of Lawfeldt, 1747 (sev. var.) ; — Peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, 1748 (R. by J. C. Roettie...
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MARTENS, JEAN BAPTISTE
MARTENS, JEAN BAPTISTE (Belg.). Contemporary Sculptor, born at Wonterghem (Belgium) ; pupil of V. Vilain and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. The following medallic productions were exhibited by him at the Salon: 1861 . Portrait-medallion of M. P.J. R. *** ; — 1864. Portrait-medallion of M. le Comte de H.***; — 1866. Portrait-medallion of the artist's father and mother ; — Portraitmedallion of Jules Favre; — 1870. Portrait-medallion of a young Lady. Bibliography. — Chavignerie et Auvray, op. cit...
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MARTENS, JEAN BAPTISTE (Belg.). Contemporary Sculptor, born at Wonterghem (Belgium) ; pupil of V. Vilain and the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris. The following medallic productions were exhibited by him at the Salon: 1861 . Portrait-medallion of M. P.J. R. *** ; — 1864. Portrait-medallion of M. le Comte de H.***; — 1866. Portrait-medallion of the artist's father and mother ; — Portraitmedallion of Jules Favre; — 1870. Portrait-medallion of a young Lady. Bibliography. — Chavignerie et Auvray, op. cit...
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