Hippolyta Gonzaga 1550

This medal portraying Hippolyta Gonzaga was crafted by an anonymous artist. These portrait medals, popular during the Renaissance, offer insight into the identities and aspirations of their subjects. Here, we see Hippolyta, wife of Ferdinand I. The inscription on the obverse side identifies her, framing her image, while the reverse shows a female figure, possibly an allegorical representation of virtue or fame, alongside symbols of navigation and learning. The medal, as a medium, served to immortalize and disseminate the image of its subject. As such, consider what aspects of Hippolyta's identity were being emphasized. Was it her familial connection to power, her virtue, or her association with humanist ideals? Consider too the male dominated spheres of politics, science, and exploration as spaces that Hippolyta would not have been able to access. How might these limitations be influencing the construction of her identity on this medal? Ultimately, this medal invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between identity, representation, and societal expectations in the Renaissance.