MERCATOR, MICHAEL (Dutch). Mercator, says Dr Cahn (German Renaissance Medals in the British Museum, London, 1904, pp. 12-13) (translation of the German name " Kauffmann") came from Venlo (Duchy of Gueldres), and was in the service of Floris von Egmont, count of Buren, for whom he acted as a diplomat and worked as an artist ". In consequence of the relations between the Count and King Henry VIII. he was, on various occasions, sent to England as an ambassador. A letter from his prince to the king, dated 15th October, 1538, has been preserved, in which Mercator is highly praised as an artist. On the occasion of his visit to England, the king conferred upon him the honour of knighthood, 28th February, 1539. This advancement in rank is commemorated by a medal the obv. of which is reproduced here. " " This medal" continues Dr Calm, " together with two similar ones of Michael Mercator and one of his wife, Elizabeth Mercator, have hitherto been regarded as English medals. On the authority of Putaneus (Genealogia Putanaea, 1630) they are given as the work of Michael Mercator himself. These conclusions are, however, entirely erroneous. We have here to do, beyond a doubt, with medals from the hand of the German master, Friedrich Hagenauer. Not only are both figures and lettering quite in his style, but they bear also the master's sign of his later years, a trefoil. We know that Hagenauer lived in the Lower Rhine district, Mercator's country, in the years 1539 and 1540, where he modelled portraits of various other important men. The information given by Putaneus of various other important men. The information given by Putaneus 100 years later that Mercator was himself a medallist, is without any proof. " Putaneus further states that Mercator executed medals of Henry VIII., and on the strength of his statement a Portrait-medal in opaque blue glass of this King has been ascribed to him, but I fear also erroneously. Dr Simonis, who has been writing on the subject since Dr Cahn (L'Art du Médailleur en Belgique, 1904) still clings to the attribution of the Mercator medal to Mercator himself (p. 222) and he further adds that the medals of Floris d'Egmont, count van Buren (van Mieris, t. II, p. 37), and Charles V. (Van Mieris, t. II, pp. 103, 142) may be considered to be by him also. From a contemporary document, it would appear that Mercator engraved and signed one of the Silver Maps issued in Holland, and sometimes attributed to Hond us (Vide Vol. II, p. 549). For Mercator's biography, cfr. M. Alvin's article in Biographie nationale de Belgique. Bibliography. — Franks and Grueber, op. cit. — Revue de la num. belge, 1850, 113; 1892, 237. — Pinchart, op. cit.
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
MASSOULLE, ANDRÉ ARTHUR PAUL
MASSOULLE, ANDRÉ ARTHUR PAUL (French). Sculptor and Medallist, born at Epernay (Marne), died at Paris, 19. June 1901, at the age of fifty. He was a pupil of Salmson and Cavelier. His principal works are a Statue of Madame de Sévigné, which was purchased by the State and which now decorates the Legion of Honour Boarding School at Saint-Denis; two Water-genii on the Alexander III. Bridge, and the Tomb of Carnot at Châlons-sur-Marne. He obtained a medal of the second class and a purse in 1882, a si...
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MASSOULLE, ANDRÉ ARTHUR PAUL (French). Sculptor and Medallist, born at Epernay (Marne), died at Paris, 19. June 1901, at the age of fifty. He was a pupil of Salmson and Cavelier. His principal works are a Statue of Madame de Sévigné, which was purchased by the State and which now decorates the Legion of Honour Boarding School at Saint-Denis; two Water-genii on the Alexander III. Bridge, and the Tomb of Carnot at Châlons-sur-Marne. He obtained a medal of the second class and a purse in 1882, a si...
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MASSYS
MASSYS or METSYS, QUENTIN (Belg.). Also QUINTIJN MESSIJS or QUINTIN MATSYS, a celebrated Smith and Painter of Antwerp, born at Louvain about 1460, is said to have died in the Carthusian convent at Antwerp, during the second half of 1530, between July 13 and September 16. He was brought up by his father as a smith, "a pursuit then often requiring artistic knowledge and manipulative skill. " The early years of his life were spent at Louvain, where he began to distinguish himself, then he settled a...
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MASSYS or METSYS, QUENTIN (Belg.). Also QUINTIJN MESSIJS or QUINTIN MATSYS, a celebrated Smith and Painter of Antwerp, born at Louvain about 1460, is said to have died in the Carthusian convent at Antwerp, during the second half of 1530, between July 13 and September 16. He was brought up by his father as a smith, "a pursuit then often requiring artistic knowledge and manipulative skill. " The early years of his life were spent at Louvain, where he began to distinguish himself, then he settled a...
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MASTER, THE, OF THE ORPHEUS LEGEND
MASTER, THE, OF THE ORPHEUS LEGEND. Under this heading Bode has described a number of Reliefs, dating from the second half of the fifteenth century, and the work of an artist of Northern Italy. These are : Vulcan in his forge with Mercury and Venus ; — Mars crowned by Victory ; — Apollo and Daphne ; — Orpheus slain by the Thracian maids; — Rape of Europa ; — Achilles taking leave of Thetis; — Venus brings arms to Aeneas; — Antique sacrificial Scene ; — Three mythological Representations ; — Meme...
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MASTER, THE, OF THE ORPHEUS LEGEND. Under this heading Bode has described a number of Reliefs, dating from the second half of the fifteenth century, and the work of an artist of Northern Italy. These are : Vulcan in his forge with Mercury and Venus ; — Mars crowned by Victory ; — Apollo and Daphne ; — Orpheus slain by the Thracian maids; — Rape of Europa ; — Achilles taking leave of Thetis; — Venus brings arms to Aeneas; — Antique sacrificial Scene ; — Three mythological Representations ; — Meme...
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MATHES, MICHAEL
MATHES, MICHAEL (Austr.). Mint-engraver at Vienna, 1850-1852; Nagybanya, 1852-1856, Vienna, 1856-1858; Carlsburg (Gyulafehervar), 1858-1859, then again at Vienna, 1863-1869. He engraved the dies for an issue of 5 Kreutzer pieces, 1858-59, 1863-64, with laur. head of Francis Joseph I., also the divisionary coinage of that same period for the Austrian provinces of Lombardo-Venetia. He died at Vienna on 2. September 1869. Bibliography. — Heinr. Cubasch jun., Die Münzen unter der Regierung des Kaise...
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MATHES, MICHAEL (Austr.). Mint-engraver at Vienna, 1850-1852; Nagybanya, 1852-1856, Vienna, 1856-1858; Carlsburg (Gyulafehervar), 1858-1859, then again at Vienna, 1863-1869. He engraved the dies for an issue of 5 Kreutzer pieces, 1858-59, 1863-64, with laur. head of Francis Joseph I., also the divisionary coinage of that same period for the Austrian provinces of Lombardo-Venetia. He died at Vienna on 2. September 1869. Bibliography. — Heinr. Cubasch jun., Die Münzen unter der Regierung des Kaise...
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