Prospero Publicola Santacroce, 1514-1589, Cardinal, 1565 [obverse] 1579

Federico Cocciola cast this bronze medal of Cardinal Prospero Publicola Santacroce. Notice how the circular form dominates, contained within concentric rings of text and beaded edges. The profile bust, set against the flat background, creates a dialogue between depth and surface. The incised lettering and the portrait's high relief, with its minute details of hair and fabric, articulate a tension between tactile presence and symbolic representation. The artist uses the formal structure of the medal to explore themes of power and identity. The medal functions as a sign, a visual encoding of status and authority, capturing the essence of its subject within a rigid semiotic frame. Consider how the artist manipulates the material's texture and weight to convey an impression of permanence. This reflects a desire not just to record, but to assert particular values within the cultural and philosophical context of the time.