Baron Johann von Khevenhüller, 1537/1538-1606 [obverse] c. 1571

This bronze medal portraying Baron Johann von Khevenhüller was crafted by Antonio Abondio in the late 16th century, a time of immense social and political change in Europe. Abondio, an Italian sculptor, was known for his portrait medals, small objects that served as both art and status symbols. Khevenhüller, an Austrian nobleman, is depicted in profile, clad in armor, his gaze firm, embodying the ideals of nobility and military prowess. The medal reflects the rigid hierarchies of the time, preserving the likeness of a man born into privilege. Yet, beyond its function as a celebration of power, it’s also a personal memento, a claim to identity in an era defined by lineage and status. What stories might this object tell about the lives of those excluded from such representations? The medal invites us to reflect on the power dynamics of the past and their echoes in the present.