Altobello Averoldo of Brescia, Bishop of Pola (1497–1532) 1500 - 1550

Maffeo Olivieri's bronze medal of Altobello Averoldo, created between 1497 and 1532, presents us with a study in Renaissance portraiture through form and inscription. The circular format frames the bust of Averoldo in profile, his features rendered with a meticulous attention to detail that invites contemplation. The composition carefully balances image and text. The subject's name and title are inscribed around the perimeter. These inscriptions not only identify the sitter but also function as a structural element, anchoring the portrait within its frame and enhancing the medal's symbolic value. The textures achieved in the bronze – from the smooth planes of the face to the crisply articulated folds of the clothing – add a tactile dimension. Olivieri uses the medal's limited space to convey Averoldo’s status and character, demonstrating how formal constraints can amplify meaning. The medal’s formal qualities are not merely aesthetic, but also deeply intertwined with the historical and cultural context of Renaissance Italy.