Guillaume d'Estouteville 1462 - 1499

Curator: Editor: This is a bronze medal depicting Guillaume d'Estouteville, made between 1462 and 1499 by Cristoforo di Geremia. It feels so formal and stiff. How should we interpret this piece? Curator: Considering a materialist approach, let's consider the significance of bronze. Bronze casting was a complex and expensive process. This wasn't mere decoration; it declared power and status. These medals are less about aesthetic beauty, and more about economic might. Who controlled access to bronze? Editor: So, it's like, the artist Cristoforo di Geremia didn’t just make art. It reflects his client’s stature through a valuable medium. But, how does it get past simple representation? Curator: Precisely! Look at the detail, not just in the Cardinal’s face but also in the inscription. How does the lettering add to this impression of material value, of skilled labour invested in an object meant to convey authority? Editor: The inscription acts almost like branding. Sort of like the Medieval version of wearing designer clothes. Curator: Exactly. It’s about consumption and the display of resources. It asks us to consider the labour that went into making this – the mining, the smelting, the casting, and engraving. Consider these aspects in relation to social class at the time. Editor: That makes total sense! I hadn’t considered the sheer amount of work. Thinking about it in that context totally reframes the medal. Thanks! Curator: Indeed, shifting focus to the tangible reveals hidden stories behind artistic creation and consumption. It's been insightful to delve into it.