Innocent IX (Pope, 1591) 1591

Niccolò de Bonis created this bronze medal of Innocent IX around 1591. The circular form, precisely rendered, immediately suggests notions of completion and authority. The details of Innocent’s profile—the precise lines defining his beard and the textures of his papal garments—capture the essence of the man but also speak to the broader themes of power and representation. The carefully inscribed text around the perimeter reinforces this sense of established order and papal authority. Consider how the medal itself functions as a signifier within a complex semiotic system. It communicates not only the identity of its subject but also his status, the values of the papacy, and the cultural codes of the time. It invites us to question how such objects shape our understanding of history and power. In its circular, self-contained form, the medal serves as a microcosm of the papal world.