Eternity [obverse] 1541

This bronze medal, "Eternity," was created by Andrea Spinelli, an Italian artist active during the Renaissance. Reflect on the historical context of the Renaissance, a time when artists drew heavily from classical antiquity. Here, the figure embodies an idealized and timeless vision of womanhood that Renaissance artists favored. The medal form itself, inspired by ancient coins, signifies a desire to emulate and preserve the legacy of past civilizations. Consider the inscription "SEMPITERINTAS" which frames the figure, and the eagle perched on a globe, symbols of enduring power and dominion. However, this piece also reflects the complex social structures of its time. While celebrating ideals of beauty and virtue, Renaissance society was deeply stratified by gender, class, and power. How does this medal, in its celebration of "eternity," confront or perhaps ignore the temporal realities of inequality and change? The work invites you to reflect on the tensions between idealization and reality, permanence and change, and how these played out in the Renaissance imagination.