ONESAS (Greek). Gem-engraver of the fourth century B.C. His signature occurs on two gems in the Florence Museum : Muse leaning against cippus and tuning her lyre; yellow antique paste, 26 X 19 mill., already described by Agostini, 1657-1659. The authenticity of this paste is beyond question; it was probably copied from an original which is now lost. Furtwängler points out the general resemblance of the type with the Venus Genetrix of Alkamenes. A copy of this gem, signed Allion, is modern (B. M. Cat., PI. G, 747), and there are numerous other imitations. "Die anmutig schöne und einfache Composition erinnert ebenso wie die leichie duftige Behandlung an die Weise des vierten Jahrhunderts, die Onesas sich, wie es manche andere Künstler der hellenistischen Zeit thaten, zum Vorbilde genommen zu haben scheint" (Jahrbuch, &c. 1888, p. 213). The other gem is a carnelian, representing the laureated bust of Hercules ; it is signed : ONHCAC. Size : 23X17 mill. Koehler and Brunn have doubted its authenticity, which Furtwängler defends with reason. The work is admirable. A poor copy by Costanzi (?) exists at The Hague museum. Prof. Furtwängler remarks: "Die Arbeit ist vorzüglich,scharf und doch lebendig und frisch. Besonders schön sind der volle Mund, die Haare und das Fell gearbeitet. An ihrer Aechtheit kann nach meiner Ansicht nicht gezweifelt werden. — Dagegen hat der Kopf zahlreiche moderne Nachbildungen hervorgerufen". This artist's signature occurs on other gems, which are all doubtful : Athena standing to 1., looking at helmet ; sard, fragment ; — Head of Apollo, sard ;— Drunken Bacchus (Lippert); — Ulysses carrying his helmet, sard (Thoms); — Head of Ariadne (Poniatowski); — Venus animating her statue made by Pygmalion (Poniatowski). Bibliography — Babelon, op. cit. — Reinach, Pierres gravées, Paris, 1895. — Furtwängler, Gemmen mit Künstlerinschriften, 1888. — Ibid., Antike Gemmen, 1903. — Brunn, op. cit. — King, op. cit. — Id., Handbook, &c. — Raspe, Tassie Gems, 1791. — Poniatowsky Gems.
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
NICOLE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS
NICOLE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS (French). Medallist ; son of a Mintofficial of Besancon, born in that city about 1700, but resided at Nancy from 1726, and died there in 1783. He filled the post of Mint-engraver at Nancy for several years, and engraved a number of medals, some of which are described by Lepage. The first in chronological order is dated 1734, and bears a portrait of Count Palatine, Christian III., duke of Zweibrücken. Saint-Urbain had originally been entrusted with the execution of this p...
[ More about NICOLE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS ]
NICOLE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS (French). Medallist ; son of a Mintofficial of Besancon, born in that city about 1700, but resided at Nancy from 1726, and died there in 1783. He filled the post of Mint-engraver at Nancy for several years, and engraved a number of medals, some of which are described by Lepage. The first in chronological order is dated 1734, and bears a portrait of Count Palatine, Christian III., duke of Zweibrücken. Saint-Urbain had originally been entrusted with the execution of this p...
[ More about NICOLE, CLAUDE FRANCOIS ]
NICOLO FIORENTINO
NICOLO FIORENTINO. Vol. II, p. 91. This artist, whose name occurs as Nicolas de Florence, de Fleurance, Florence, Florentin, or le Florentin was evidently a native of Florence. He was a Master-gilder at Lyons, from about 1493 till his death in 1499. There he married Guillermine Le P?re, daughter of Louis Le P?re, in collaboration with whom he executed in 1499 the dies of the medal with the portraits of Charles VIII. and Anne of Brittany, struck on their Visit to Lyons. Bibliography. — Armand, op...
[ More about NICOLO FIORENTINO ]
NICOLO FIORENTINO. Vol. II, p. 91. This artist, whose name occurs as Nicolas de Florence, de Fleurance, Florence, Florentin, or le Florentin was evidently a native of Florence. He was a Master-gilder at Lyons, from about 1493 till his death in 1499. There he married Guillermine Le P?re, daughter of Louis Le P?re, in collaboration with whom he executed in 1499 the dies of the medal with the portraits of Charles VIII. and Anne of Brittany, struck on their Visit to Lyons. Bibliography. — Armand, op...
[ More about NICOLO FIORENTINO ]
NIDERÖST, G.
NIDERÖST, G. (Germ.). Mint-engraver at Pisa, and Medallist, circ. 1825-1858. His signature : NIDERÖST or initials G. N. or N. occur on gold and silver currency of Leopold II., Grand Duke of Tuscany (1824-1858), struck at Pisa, as : Al. 80 Fiorini, 1827; Ruspone or 40 Lire, 1836 and other dates; Zecchino, var. dates; — AR. Francescone of 10 Paoli, 1836, 1858 and other dates ; Franceschino of 5 Paoli, var. dates; Fiorino of 2 1/2 Paoli, 1847, 1856, and other dates; Paolo, 1858 and other dates; M...
[ More about NIDERÖST, G. ]
NIDERÖST, G. (Germ.). Mint-engraver at Pisa, and Medallist, circ. 1825-1858. His signature : NIDERÖST or initials G. N. or N. occur on gold and silver currency of Leopold II., Grand Duke of Tuscany (1824-1858), struck at Pisa, as : Al. 80 Fiorini, 1827; Ruspone or 40 Lire, 1836 and other dates; Zecchino, var. dates; — AR. Francescone of 10 Paoli, 1836, 1858 and other dates ; Franceschino of 5 Paoli, var. dates; Fiorino of 2 1/2 Paoli, 1847, 1856, and other dates; Paolo, 1858 and other dates; M...
[ More about NIDERÖST, G. ]
NICHOLYN, LUKE
NICHOLYN, LUKE (Brit.). Mint-master at the Tower of London, from the 17th to the 24th year of Edward III., in conjunction with others. He was a native of Florence, and his name appears in various forms : LOTTO NICHOLYN, JOHN LOTTE NICOLE, LOTTE NICOLI, etc. In a document of 1344, we read : "In the eighteenth year of the king, George Kirkyn and Lotto Nicholyn, of Florence, late masters and workers, were commanded to deliver to Percival de Porche de Lucca, then appointed master and worker, all th...
[ More about NICHOLYN, LUKE ]
NICHOLYN, LUKE (Brit.). Mint-master at the Tower of London, from the 17th to the 24th year of Edward III., in conjunction with others. He was a native of Florence, and his name appears in various forms : LOTTO NICHOLYN, JOHN LOTTE NICOLE, LOTTE NICOLI, etc. In a document of 1344, we read : "In the eighteenth year of the king, George Kirkyn and Lotto Nicholyn, of Florence, late masters and workers, were commanded to deliver to Percival de Porche de Lucca, then appointed master and worker, all th...
[ More about NICHOLYN, LUKE ]