Frieze Tablet

Wedgwood

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Oval black basalt intaglio with profile portrait of a bearded man
Papal medallion cast, Pope Urban VIII (1568-1644), reigned as pope from 6 August 1623 to his death in 1644. He expanded the papal territory by force of arms and advantageous politicking, and was also a prominent patron of the arts and a reformer of Church missions. However, the massive debts incurred during his pontificate greatly weakened his successors, who were unable to maintain the papacy's longstanding political and military influence in Europe. He was also involved in a controversy with Galileo and his theory on heliocentrism during his reign. He is the most recent pope to date to take the pontifical name of Urban upon being elected as pope.
The figure of a mustached Doctor Boloardo standing on a small white base, his knees bent and his right leg thrust forward, his hands at waist, wearing red knee breeches, white stockings and black shoes, his puce-colored coat with gilt buttons and details, a large white ruffled collar rests upon his gray cloak with yellow lining, he wears a large black hat over a blue skullcap
Oval black jasper medallion with white relief profile portrait of Baroness Mayer de Rothschild facing left