Opus Pisani (pictoris). Influenze quattrocentesche nella medaglistica italiana tra le due guerre

The paper aims at analysing the critical debate, between the Twenties and Thirties, on the Italian medals of the XV century. During these two decades, artists such as Matteo de’ Pasti, Niccolò Fiorentino and, above all, Pisanello were studied by many scholars, who underlined the executive technique of their artworks. Specifically, the most renowned feature of these medals is to be obtained through melting process, contrary to mintage, which would have been mostly used later. Not only does this factor provide new insights to highlight the specifically sculptural aspect of these works, but it also contributes to a new attention by several modern artists, who make use of a variety of stylistic and compositional solutions typical of Renaissance medals. Some of the most interesting outcomes of this widespread artistic fascination can be traced in some exhibitions: from the International Exhibition of Modern Medal (New York, 1924) to the first National Medal Exhibition (Rome, 1938).