Marcantonio Memmo, 1536-1615, Doge of Venice 1612 after 1612

Guillaume Dupré cast this bronze medal of Marcantonio Memmo, Doge of Venice, sometime between 1536 and 1615. Memmo’s profile, adorned with the ducal horn, speaks to the rich history and complex semiotics of Venetian power. The Doge’s horn, or "corno ducale," evolved from a simple Phrygian cap, a symbol of freedom, into a stiff, upturned horn, gradually becoming a unique emblem of Venetian authority. Consider how the Phrygian cap itself, worn by freed slaves in antiquity, re-emerged during the French Revolution as a symbol of liberty. The Doge's horn, in its evolution, mirrors this process. Observe the Doge's stern visage; it reflects a conscious construction of power, echoing the busts of Roman emperors. Just as those rulers sought to project authority, so too does Memmo, consciously or not, tap into a wellspring of cultural memory. These symbols are not static. They evolve, adapt, and reappear, connecting us to the past in ways both profound and mysterious.