The medallion 1875

Gerolamo Induno painted "The Medallion" in Italy, most likely during the second half of the 19th century. The painting depicts a woman in repose, gazing out as she holds a medallion. At the time, Italian society was undergoing significant change. The Risorgimento, or unification of Italy, had recently concluded, leading to new national institutions and cultural expressions. The painting reflects shifting ideas about femininity, away from the Neoclassical austerity of previous decades and towards the more sensual aesthetic of the Belle Époque. Induno’s choice to depict a woman in this state of undress raises questions about the role of women in Italian society at the time, and the institutional context in which images like this circulated. To understand "The Medallion" more fully, we might look to sources such as periodicals and exhibition reviews, to understand how paintings like this were received by the public in Italy. These resources can tell us about the social and cultural values that shaped the production and reception of Induno's art.