John VIII Paleologus - Styles and Influences
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John VIII Paleologus
Antonia di Pietro Averlina, known as Filarete
Florence, ca. 1400 - Rome, ca. 1469
The bust portrays the Byzantine emperor John VIII Paleologus in middle age. The face has regular features framed with a beard and moustache and symmetrically arranged hair with characteristic large curls. He wears a pointed tall hat.
This bust is certainly linked with the first medal bearing the figure of John VIII Paleologus made by Pisanello in Ferrara on the occasion of the emperor's visit to the court of the Este at Ferrara. On the obverse of the 1438 medal the figure of the Byzantine emperor is depicted in profile, with the same hat, clothes, large curls and sharp features.