Alfonso V van Arragon, koning van Napels en Sicilie 1449 - 1900

This is a bronze portrait medal of Alfonso V of Aragon, King of Naples and Sicily, made by the artist Pisanello. In Renaissance Italy, portrait medals were made to immortalize individuals and broadcast their power. Alfonso V was a key figure in fifteenth-century Italian politics, known for his patronage of the arts. Pisanello’s medal presents Alfonso in profile, a style inspired by ancient Roman coins. It depicts the armor and crown to represent the king’s military prowess and royal status. The reverse of the medal shows an eagle protecting smaller birds, an allegory of Alfonso’s role as a just and powerful ruler. It evokes themes of power, justice, and the ideal ruler, reflecting the values of the Renaissance court. The medal allows us to consider how leaders like Alfonso V actively shaped their public image and how artists participated in the construction of identity through art.