The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Portrait of John VIII Palaeologus, Emperor of Constantinople, 1424-1428 (obverse)

c. 1438–1439

Pisanello

(Italian, Ferrara, c. 1395–1455)
Italy, 15th century
lead
Diameter: 10.4 cm (4 1/8 in.)
John L. Severance Fund 1974.109.a
Location: 105 Byzantine

Description

The art of the medal was introduced into Italy by Pisanello, His work as a medalist began with the portrait medal of this emperor, who, in 1438, visited the Council of Ferrara.
  • Private collection, sold Sotheby & Co., Zurich, May 27, 1974, lot 131, to Blumka Gallery.
    Blumka Gallery (New York, New York), sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art, 1974.
  • Lee, Sherman E. “The Year in Review for 1974.” The Bulletin of the Cleveland Museum of Art 62, no. 3 (March 1975): 62–102. Reproduced: p. 66; Mentioned: p. 97, no. 15 www.jstor.org
    The Cleveland Museum of Art. Handbook of the Cleveland Museum of Art/1978. Cleveland, OH: The Cleveland Museum of Art, 1978. Reproduced: p. 88 archive.org
  • CMA 1975: "Renaissance Bronzes from Ohio Collections"
  • {{cite web|title=Portrait of John VIII Palaeologus, Emperor of Constantinople, 1424-1428 (obverse)|url=false|author=Pisanello|year=c. 1438–1439|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1974.109.a