Raimondo Lavagnoli, Commissary of Saxony in the 11th or 12th Century [obverse] c. late 15th century

This bronze medal of Raimondo Lavagnoli was created in Italy by Giovanni Candida around 1470. These portrait medals became popular during the Renaissance as a new form of honoring individuals outside of traditional religious or classical subjects. The inscription states Raimondo Lavagnoli was the Commissary of Saxony. The image of a man who held a civic position is a sign of the growing power of a merchant class in Italian city-states. The medal is an example of the complex relationship between art, patronage, and power. The creation of this image served to solidify his place in history, but it also reflects the social and political values of the time. It would be interesting to research his family history in local archives to better understand the society that commissioned this work.