The Resurrection of the Dead and the Last Judgment (reverse); Portrait Medal of Filippo de' Medici, Archbishop of Pisa (obverse) 1463 - 1474

Bertoldo di Giovanni cast this bronze medal in fifteenth-century Italy; one side shows the Archbishop of Pisa, Filippo de' Medici, and the other shows the Resurrection of the Dead and the Last Judgement. In Renaissance Italy, portrait medals functioned as both personal mementos and political tools. The Medici family, who ruled Florence and wielded influence throughout Italy, understood this well. Displaying the Archbishop prominently communicated the family's power and reach within the Church. Yet, situating the Archbishop next to the violent scene of the Resurrection and Last Judgement seems like an odd choice. The medal references both earthly and spiritual power, reflecting the cultural tensions between religious belief and humanist ideas of the time. To fully understand the medal's meaning, one would need to delve into Florentine history, Medici family politics, and the religious art traditions of the Renaissance. By situating art within its complex social and institutional context, we gain a deeper appreciation for its enduring power.