Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, 1417-1468, Lord of Rimini and Fano [obverse] 1449 - 1450

Curator: This striking metal portrait is a medal created by Matteo de' Pasti between 1449 and 1450. It depicts Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, the Lord of Rimini and Fano, a key figure of the Italian Renaissance. Editor: Wow, even in monochrome, there’s something quite severe and captivating about his gaze. It's like looking into the face of ambition… and maybe a bit of ruthlessness? Curator: Exactly. The portrait medal was a powerful propaganda tool. Notice how his profile is framed by that Latin inscription, carefully chosen to communicate his status and virtues. Every element carries symbolic weight. Editor: It’s interesting how he's presented in profile. Almost feels like a Roman emperor on a coin, you know? Classical allusion meets Renaissance ambition. What do we know about Malatesta? I get the sense he wasn't exactly a choirboy. Curator: Sigismondo was a complex character. A celebrated condottiero and patron of the arts, yet also a controversial figure accused of various transgressions. The medal presents the image he wished to project: a cultured, powerful, and legitimate ruler. Editor: So, spin. Medieval spin. I’m drawn to the contrast between the crisp lettering and the almost soft modeling of his face. And that hair! It's so precisely rendered – like tight little snails clinging to his head! I mean that in a nice way. Curator: Hair was, and still is, very symbolic, denoting status, strength, and virility. The very tactile quality of the medium emphasizes these very traits. The medal acted as a cultural memory. Editor: Absolutely, a potent reminder of a man’s legacy, a kind of pocket-sized immortality project. This tiny metal disc holds a whole world of power, ambition, and carefully constructed image. Makes you wonder what sort of "medal" we're all trying to forge for ourselves today. Curator: Indeed, it's a reminder of how consciously individuals shape their own narrative, using symbols and images to craft an enduring identity for posterity.