ITALY, Milano (Milan). Medal (Bronze, 53 mm, 43.81 g, 12 h), on Cardinal and Archbishop Carlo Borromeo (1538-1584). An early cast from the late 16th or early 17th century by an uncertain Lombard artist, no date. CAR•BORROMEVS - CARD•ARCHIEP•MEDI• Draped bust of Charles Borromeo wearing biretta to left. Rev. SOLA.GAVDE.HVMIL - ITATE.DEVS. Agnus Dei on an altar. Armand II 263, 615. Attwood 199. Lanna 262. Löbbecke (Kunstmedaillen) I, 148. Pollard, Bargello III, 821. Trau 1337. Wurzbach 4223. Rare and with a wonderful pedigree. Tiny marks and scratches, otherwise, good very fine.



Charles Borromeo (1538–1584), Cardinal and Archbishop of Milan, was one of the leading figures of the Counter-Reformation, playing a central role in implementing the reforms of the Council of Trent and promoting stricter clerical discipline and education. His influence extended deeply into Switzerland, particularly the Catholic cantons, where he supported Catholic reform, visited the Swiss Confederacy, and helped establish the Collegium Helveticum in Milan for the training of Swiss clergy. Canonized in 1610, he became one of the most important saints of the Catholic Reformation.

Unlike later casts of this type, the present medal omits both ‘B[eatus]’ and ‘S[anctus]’ from Borromeo’s title, indicating that the design predates his beatification in 1601 and canonization in 1610.

This medal and the following six lots once formed part of the celebrated collection of the art connoisseur Eduard Sturzenegger (1854–1932). When offered at auction in 1932, the present piece was specifically described in the catalog as “Schönes Original” (‘pleasing original’ in German; Hamburger 97, 12 December 1932, p. 2, no. 37).