On 10 November 1463, Giovanni Bentivoglio was solemnly elected to the position of gonfalon of justice in Bologna. With his marriage to Ginevra Sforza in May 1464, he strengthened his power with the support of the Duke of Milan, Francesco Sforza – Ginevra, daughter of the Lord of Pesaro Alessandro, being the niece – of Pope Pius II (who appointed him perpetual head of the Senate in 1466) and the King of Naples, Ferdinand I.
Passionate about art, he surrounded himself with artists. Above all Lorenzo Costa – who portrayed him in profile in a splendid gold double ducat in the web-only Coins auction open until 16 June (lot 23, estimate EUR 17,000 – 20,000) – and intellectuals. Thus, Bologna, already the seat of a prestigious university, became even more of a cultural centre, creating an anomalous but absolutely exquisite and advanced court that made the neighbouring Italian and European courts pale in comparison. He is universally recognised as one of the greatest Renaissance princes and a friend of Lorenzo the Magnificent. He had a magnificent palace built – now destroyed – in Via San Donato (now Zamboni) and enriched the church of San Giacomo Maggiore, on the same street, with splendid works of art. In this church, he also had the family chapel built, a superb example of the Bolognese Renaissance, where Lorenzo Costa’s painting of his large family can be found.
Lot 23
Italian mints. Bologna. Giovanni II Bentivoglio (1494-1509), Double Duchy
Gold, 91gr, 27mm. SPL
Estimate € 17,000 – 22,000