Sir Richard Shelley (b. 1514)

Sir Richard Shelley (b. 1514), Grand Prior of the Knights of Malta in England, later Turcopolier of infantry, cast bronze portrait medal, 1577, by Bernard Rantwic, half-length bust right wearing armour bearing the cross of the Knights of Malta on breastplate, ruff collar and scarf tied at his left, RICARDVS SCELLEIVS PRIOR ANGLIÆ, signed below truncation, rev., a griffin, ducally gorged, in landscape, PATRIARVM EXCVBITOR OPVM, 68.5mm (MI 127/74; cf Eim. 49; Schembri - ; Pollard 2007, II, 780; Kress 640 [an electrotype]; Salton 151). An early aftercast (from a pierced example), very fine.

Provenance: Baldwin Auction, 25 March, 1998 (lot 10); ex Spink, 1977.