Lodovico with Faith and Pallas [reverse] 1475

Curator: Isn't it incredible how much expression and intention can be packed onto a single bronze relief? Editor: Absolutely. My first impression is a profound sense of stateliness, it reminds me of ancient Roman coins. The warm hue of the bronze radiates strength. Curator: It's attributed to Bartolommeo Melioli and crafted around 1475, capturing the likeness of Lodovico alongside the allegorical figures of Faith and Pallas. Lodovico is seated on a throne, his gaze resolute, but what catches my attention is that small dog. Editor: A loyal canine companion! But from a formal standpoint, consider the strategic arrangement—the dog mirroring Lodovico's authority in miniature and also how he placed it directly on the foreground. And the inscription forming a majestic frame. A symphony of power encoded within limited space. Curator: I love that "symphony of power" as a way to explain Melioli’s goal, but there is more to it than simple ambition and control. Melioli’s figures exist on two planes of reference, both political, but Faith and Pallas humanize Lodovico, giving us insight into the things that give life value beyond wealth and control. They represent qualities every ruler wants associated with their reign, that they hope people remember when they look back at it. Editor: Interesting point, it certainly underscores the Renaissance fascination with classical virtue and ideal leadership. Melioli cleverly uses the relief format, this controlled, raised design, to literally elevate Lodovico within a pantheon of revered figures. Curator: The subtle dance between Faith, Pallas, and Lodovico is quite compelling—a silent, eternal exchange, forever preserved. But do we know how Lodovico viewed it? Do we know who he hoped to sway? I bet it felt very different at the time. I love wondering about these things. Editor: True, that unknowable distance lends the artwork another dimension of appeal. But even now, focusing on line, mass and arrangement—reveals the mastery that has echoed across centuries, its resonance still very present, what a fascinating composition to close our exhibition.