Justice c. early 16th century

This small bronze figure of Justice, attributed to Niccolò Tribolo, was made around 1530, during the Italian Renaissance. The lost-wax casting process would have begun with a model in wax. Molten bronze was then poured into a mold, replacing the wax and capturing every detail. Once cooled, the mold was broken away, revealing the bronze figure. The dark, lustrous surface comes from a careful finishing process, and the smooth, flowing lines emphasize the figure’s grace. Justice carries the tools of her trade: a sword for punishment and scales for measuring truth. Bronze, a costly and durable material, was a traditional choice for representing important concepts. This object shows that even in the Renaissance, materials and making mattered profoundly. By focusing on how things are made, we can appreciate both the artistry and the complex social context of works like this.