Antonio Abondio

(b Riva del Garda, Trento, 1538; d Vienna, 22 May 1591). He and Leone Leoni were the only Italian medallists to be highly successful as court artists north of the Alps. Abondio's earliest dated medal is of Jacopo Antonio Buoncompagni-Sora (1561; Vienna, Ksthist. Mus.). No stylistic development for his medals has been proposed. His eclectic style reflects Italian, German and Netherlandish sources. In Italy he followed the Milanese court style exemplified in the work of Leoni; he was influenced by medals of the Venetian Alessandro Vittoria, and, most surprisingly, early in his career he was influenced by the charming works of Alfonso Ruspagiari and the school of wax modellers and medallists centred on Reggio Emilia. Abondio's signed medal of Caterina Riva (1565; e.g. London, BM) presents her almost as a painting, three-quarter length and three-quarter facing, with the voluminous drapery used to make a Mannerist decoration.

Part of the Abondio family

See the Abbreviations for further details.