Cristoforo di Geremia's date of birth is unknown. He was most likely the son of Geremia di Nicolino dei Geremei, a Mantuan goldsmith whose name was prevalent in documents from
Mantua between the years of 1438 and 1480. Cristoforo di Geremia died at the age of 46, while at what was considered the peak of his professional career. Cristoforo di Geremia studied at the Mantuan school and was most influenced by
Mantegna, who was a mentor to Cristoforo. Many of
Mantegna's techniques are seen in Cristoforo's work. Although very little is known about his early professional career, it is known that Cristoforo was very interested in the art of antiquity. Many of his works contain various nuances gathered from ancient Roman coins. While in service to the Pope, Cristoforo primarily produced variations of two different medals. The first was oval-shaped and made to commemorate his pontification and political shrewdness. The second medal was circular and was produced to recognize his various campaigns at the Palazzo San Marco. One side has Pope Paul II's profile. The inscription on it reads "PAVLO VENETO PAPE II - ITALICE PACIS FVNDATORI - ROMA", which translates to "Pope Paul II Venetian - Founder of the Peace of Italy - Rome". The back shows Pope Paul II's coat of arms, from his status as the Venetian cardinal
Pietro Barbo, and includes a rampant lion, the papal keys, and a tiara. The medal was produced in conjunction with the pope's announcement of peace in the
Basilica of San Marco on April 25, 1468. Versions of the medal were most likely distributed to notable attendees of the event, as well as sent to secular rulers of the peninsula. As with many of Cristoforo's works, this papal medal has components inspired by antiquity. There is evidence that the profile side of the medal resembles the denarius of
Emperor Hadrian. The inscription assimilates Pope Paul II to
Augustus stemming from the inherently imperial nature of the peace proclamation in 1468.
Signed works There are two surviving medals signed by Cristoforo di Geremia. The first shows
Constantine the Great on the front and a pseudo-classical group on the back. Although the intended meaning of the back is unknown, some attribute the representation to the Constantinian Peace of the Church. Others argue that the two figures and the inscription are the deliberate imitation of a Roman coin, the inspiration deriving from a
sestertius of
Plotina when Cristoforo was making his medal of Constantine. The two figures, the Emperor and the Church are clasping hands. The second signed medal from Cristoforo di Geremia shows
Alfonso V of Aragon, King of Naples. It features Alfonso V's bust and was probably inspired by
Pisanello's work on Alfonso V. The back of the medal shows Alfonso enthroned and crowned by
Bellona and
Mars. Cristoforo di Geremia was superseded by his nephew, the medallist Lysippus the Younger, who, along with other artists, borrowed figures and compositions from Cristoforo. == Works ==