Isabella d'Este (1474–1539) 1498

This portrait of Isabella d'Este, made by Gian Cristoforo Romano around the turn of the 16th century, is rendered in bronze. But it is not painting or sculpture as we usually understand it. Rather, it's a cast medal, a popular means of commemorating individuals at the time. To create this, an artist would first incise a detailed image into a soft material like wax or clay. Molten bronze is then poured into this mold and allowed to cool. After the metal has set, the mold is broken away to reveal the finished medal. What's fascinating is the way the material itself speaks to power and status. Bronze is relatively humble. The resulting object is both durable and reproducible, far removed from the unique aura of a hand-carved marble bust. Yet, because the artist must be skilled in both modeling and metallurgy, the medal also elevates craft to the level of high art. It’s a perfect emblem of the Renaissance, when artistry, technology, and individual fame were inseparably linked.