Antonio Calmone, Secretary to Philip II [obverse] c. 1570

Pier Paolo Galeotti created this bronze medal of Antonio Calmone, Secretary to Philip II, sometime in the mid- to late-16th century. The circular format immediately establishes a sense of Renaissance order and the profile view gives it a classical feel. The overall effect is one of controlled dignity, yet the surface texture complicates any simple reading of power. Look closely and you'll see how Galeotti has used line and relief to create an intricate interplay of textures. The crisp lines of the inscription contrast with the more organic forms of Calmone's hair and beard. The details of his clothing are meticulously rendered, the lines creating the sense of rich fabric and status. The variations in depth, light and shadow are a subtle tension between the permanence of the bronze and the fleeting nature of human existence. The medal's form and texture underscore the complex dance between individual identity and the structures of power that defined the European Renaissance.