Exhibition preview 2024: An antique eagle cameo from the art collection of Emperor Rudolf II and the medallist Antonio Abondio
The upcoming special exhibition "Imperial Impressions - The Emperors and their Court Artists" at the Coin Cabinet in Vienna is dedicated for the first time to artists who worked in the court environment of the Habsburg (Lorraine) rulers and created artistic masterpieces in the form of medals and sculptures. In the run-up to the opening in February 2024, we are presenting some selected masterpieces, which can then be viewed in the original on site.
While the last article centred on Anton Matthias Domanöck (1713-1779) and the breakfast service for Maria Theresa from 1750, today's is dedicated to a 16th century court artist.
The life of Antonio Abondio (1538-1591), who came from northern Italy, always showed his proximity to the imperial court. In 1566, Maximilian II (reigned 1564-1576) called him to Vienna. After his death, Rudolf II (r. 1576-1612), who resided in Prague, took over Abondio as court artist.
In Abondio's medallic oeuvre, the eagle cameo - one of the largest surviving antique stone carvings - which is now kept in the Collection of Classical Antiquities in Vienna, occupies a remarkable position (image). It is an early example of artists' involvement with objects from the imperial collections. The cameo probably already aroused admiration at the court of the Roman Emperor Augustus († 14 AD). In the Middle Ages, it was probably located in Aachen Cathedral. Perhaps the eagle cameo came to the Viennese court immediately after the 16th century version was completed. It served Abondio as a model for the design of the reverse of medals by Emperor Maximilian II.
Abondio created major works of medallic art and pioneering works in wax, as well as influencing the coinage industry. From 1578, the large silver coins of Emperor Rudolf II were minted throughout the empire according to models created by Abondio. One of these models has been preserved and is one of the special treasures of the Vienna Coin Cabinet.
The exhibition can be seen at the Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna from February 13, 2024!
Image: Large eagle cameo, Rome, 27th BC or a little later; 16th century version, sardonyx, Kunsthistorisches Museum Vienna, Collection of Classical Antiquities, inv. no. IXa 26
