Emperor, Pope, and Cardinals on Ponte Sant' Angelo [reverse] 1468 - 1469

Editor: Here we have "Emperor, Pope, and Cardinals on Ponte Sant' Angelo [reverse]," a bronze relief created between 1468 and 1469 by Bertoldo di Giovanni. It strikes me as incredibly detailed for such a small object! What historical moment do you think it represents and what message was the artist trying to send? Curator: Ah, yes. This medal is more than just a pretty face – well, multiple faces, actually. I like to think of it as a snapshot of Renaissance power dynamics, all compacted onto this tiny bronze stage. Notice how everyone is crammed onto the Ponte Sant’Angelo? Talk about prime real estate. It's commemorating a specific event, perhaps a diplomatic meeting, where the Emperor and the Pope, surrounded by their entourages, met in Rome. It whispers of carefully constructed alliances. I’d wager Giovanni wanted to demonstrate a snapshot of a key moment in time. Wouldn't you say it makes the scene more dramatic and dynamic? Editor: Absolutely, it definitely heightens the drama! The bridge becomes a symbol of connection, but also, perhaps, a fragile space where different powers converge. So it is kind of political then? Curator: In its essence, yes. There is some power-play shown in there. What else catches your eye? Is there anything more symbolic or hidden? Editor: Well, it is intriguing the level of detail given the relatively small dimensions! That Bertoldo was able to communicate so much in relief is really interesting and highlights how multitalented Renaissance artists needed to be. I've really learnt so much more. Curator: Me too! It always seems with these little moments in time that more surfaces than is expected!