Lomazzo Bowing to Mercury and Fortune [reverse] c. 1560s

This bronze medal, entitled Lomazzo Bowing to Mercury and Fortune, was made by Annibale Fontana during the late Renaissance. During this period, the aristocracy often embraced Humanism, leading to a revived interest in classical antiquity, and an acceptance of wealth and fortune as a reward for those favored by the gods. The medal presents an allegory with the artist, Lomazzo, in the center, bowing before Mercury and Fortune. Mercury, the god of eloquence and commerce, and Fortune, the goddess of luck, represent two paths to success available to artists during the Renaissance. During a period in which artistic patronage was critical for artists, the medal emphasizes themes of dependency and ambition. The work can be understood as a commentary on the delicate balance between talent, as symbolized by Mercury, and the capricious nature of success, as personified by Fortune. The medal, therefore, presents us with the tension between the pursuit of artistic excellence, and the external forces that shape an artist's destiny.