Mary Tudor, Queen of England 1550 - 1560

This portrait of Mary Tudor, Queen of England, was struck in metal by Jacopo Nizolla da Trezzo. The impact of the die on the metal disk has created a raised relief. The texture is smooth, and the artist has successfully captured the likeness and royal status of the subject. But it’s not just a portrait, it’s also a pronouncement. This object would have been struck many times to create multiples, small acts of power distributed widely. We might think of minting coins as a very different kind of making than, say, sculpting a unique marble statue. But in both cases, the inherent qualities of the material are crucial. The color, weight, and durability of a coin all contribute to its significance. A lot of human labor went into this piece, from mining to smelting to the craft of the die cutter, and it’s crucial to consider this work to appreciate the result.