Magdalena Gonzaga 15th century

This portrait medal of Magdalena Gonzaga was made by Bartolommeo Melioli sometime before 1514, likely using a lost-wax casting process in bronze. The metal would have been heated until molten, then poured into a mold and allowed to cool. After the casting was removed, the details of the portrait would have been refined by hand with chisels and gravers. Consider the qualities of bronze. Its ability to capture fine detail, the permanence of the material, and the subtle patination that would have developed over time. These all speak to the importance of the commission. Note the way in which the inscription around the perimeter of the medal memorializes Magdalena, conferring status through skilled craftsmanship and the preciousness of time. The Renaissance was a great period for medals. They were collected, traded, and displayed as signs of humanist taste. This particular example reflects the desire to immortalize prominent individuals and their families by extension. We can appreciate that the value of the medal extends beyond its function as a portrait, to the modes of production and social networks that it represents.