Maria of Austria (1528-1603) c. 1902

Curator: This bronze medal, titled “Maria of Austria (1528-1603),” comes to us from an anonymous artist, and is held in the collections of the Harvard Art Museums. It presents a compelling profile. Editor: It’s quite striking, isn't it? The medium seems almost like a historical fingerprint, pressing the memory of Maria into our hands. I wonder about the social implications of its creation. Curator: Absolutely. Medals such as these were often commissioned as symbols of power and remembrance, designed to circulate a specific image of their subject—in this case, propagating Maria's noble status. Editor: And consider the casting process itself—the labor, the value of the materials. It speaks volumes about the society that produced and consumed such objects, what was considered important and worthy of immortalization. Curator: Indeed. The symbols encoded here—her dress, her gaze—all contribute to the carefully constructed narrative of a powerful woman. Editor: A fascinating object, made meaningful through both symbolic language and material reality. Curator: A potent combination, offering us a glimpse into the past.