Patience [reverse] 1554

This is the reverse side of a silver medal called "Patience," created by Pompeo Leoni sometime between the 16th and 17th centuries. The figure of Patience is shown as a draped woman, breasts exposed, with a landscape to her left and an allegorical figure with a vase to her right. Pompeo Leoni, working in the cultural milieu of the late Renaissance, engages with classical and biblical motifs to explore themes of virtue and resilience. During this time, a woman’s virtue was often associated with her ability to endure hardship and maintain composure in the face of adversity. The exposed breast may speak to the idea of the nurturing mother, who selflessly gives. However, it can also evoke the vulnerability of women in a patriarchal society. This medal invites us to reflect on the emotional and social dimensions of patience, both as a personal virtue and as a gendered expectation.