Hope with Hands Raised in Prayer [reverse] after 1544

This bronze medal, “Hope with Hands Raised in Prayer,” was created by Leone Leoni in the 16th century. Its small scale invites close inspection. The process of bronze casting has been used for millennia to produce durable objects with intricate detail. This medal was likely created using the lost-wax method, where a wax model is encased in clay, melted away, and replaced with molten bronze. Once cooled, the mold is broken to reveal the final form. Consider the labor involved, from the initial design to the final polishing. The warm, lustrous surface of the bronze enhances the figure's expressiveness and emphasizes the textures of the drapery. The figure’s supplication towards the heavens is rendered through a series of refined sculptural decisions. This elevates a relatively humble material to the status of a precious object. By appreciating the artistry and technical skill, we recognize the full artistic achievement and challenge the notion that only painting and sculpture are considered ‘high art.’