Medal of King Ferdinand of Hungary and Bohemia 

This is Sebald Beham's medal of King Ferdinand, made in sixteenth-century Germany, using engraving on iron. Beham's decision to portray Ferdinand in profile within a circular frame evokes the tradition of classical Roman portraiture. This wasn't just about aesthetics; it was a deliberate attempt to connect Ferdinand's rule with the perceived glory and legitimacy of the Roman Empire. The armor and royal regalia are typical of imagery of rulers at this time. However, by drawing on classical references, Beham's medal tries to establish the authority of the modern European state by linking it to the past. As art historians, we can use sources, such as court records and political writings, to explore the relationship between art and power in sixteenth-century Europe. We can look at Beham's other work, and the work of his contemporaries, to build up a picture of how art was used to shape the perception of political power at this time.