Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 8.djvu/413

 TI[K ARCIIAEOLOGICAI- INSTITUTi:. ;; | 7 bound, BO that escape luijvlit be impracticallc. The tradition, however, is preserved in the family, that such hvely j.ortraiture was actually brought on board the ship in which Lady Ogilvie had taken her passage'; when, with sinoular presence of mind, she ol)served that the likeness was re- markable, and that with such a guide they could not fail to detect the fn-Mtive. Mil. AruusTUS Franks read the following Notice of the productiTms of Ileinrich Reitz, of Leipsic, and laid before the meeting three specimens of the singular skill of that artist. Of one of these, the titiest known to exist, Mr Franks has kindly enabled us to give the accompanying representation! " This large silver medallion is a remarkable specimen of the work of the German goldsmiths during the sixteenth century. On the obverse is repre- sented the Holy Trinity, with accompanying angels ; round the margin is incribed, propter scelvs popvli mei percvs.si ev,m. isai/E liif. On the reverse, on a tablet supported by angels, is inscribed a ])ortion of the Athanasian Creed, and part of the hymn, " veneranda Unitas adoranda Trinitas," <fcc.; round the margin, regnante avgvsto n. G. dvce saxom.e &c. GKOSSVM IIVNC LIPSLE IIR CVDEBAT. Notwithstanding the use of the word cudchat, this medallion is not struck but cast. It must have been cast in a very imperfect state, exhibiting only the portions which are least in relief. All the more important accessories have then been soldered on ; such as the crucifix, dove, sceptre, and the hair and beard of the principal figure, and all the other prominent portions. The whole has been then worked over with a tool and finished. "The inscription just mentioned furnishes us not only with the place where the medallion was made, but also with the name of the artist : the letters H R denote Ileinrich Reitz of Leipsic, one of the best goldsmiths of his day. Nothing is known of this artist's history beyond what his works supply. The medallion now under consideration is one of his most famous productions. It is greatly valued by collectors in Germany, where it is usually known as the Mauritzthaler, the greater number being made under the Elector Maurice, in 1544. The present specimen is the only one I have ever heard of, which was made under the Elector Augustus. It is not known for what purpose they were made : the quantity of silver jiroduced by the Saxon mines caused many large works to be executed in this metal. The other works produced by Reitz are — 1. A medal of Charles V., of very beautiful workmanship, which, through the kindness of Mr. Pfister, I am able also to exhibit to the Society. On one side is a portrait of the Emperor, on the other the imperial eagle and the initials IIR. " 2. A medal with the bust of the Cardinal Albert of Brandenburg, Arch- bishop of Mayence ; on the reverse of this there are represented two alle- gorical figures, pourtraying religion and worldly pomp. This is also signed with the artist's initials. 3. Another medal of the '^a^ne person is also sup- posed to be by Reitz ; it is of exquisite workmanship, though small. 4. The last work I have to mention by this artist is a medal less rare than the others, of inferior workmanship : on one side is represented the temptation of Adam and Eve, on the other the Crucifixion. At the foot of the cross is a monogram f(jrmed of the letters II R with the date I'toG. Mr. Octavius Morgan has kindly exhibited a very fine example of this medal. It appears to have been executed by order of John Frederick, Elector of Saxony. Another specimen of this medal was recently exhibited to the Society i>f Antiquaries, by Mrs. Ellison, of Sudbrook Holme, Lincoln."' "■ Sec Proceedings of the Society of Antiquai-ies, Jan. 30., It^.M, vol. ii., i>. IJI.