Triumphal Car with Mercury and the Muses [reverse] c. 1480

Bertoldo di Giovanni created this bronze medal in Florence, Italy, most likely in the second half of the 15th century. It shows a triumphal car carrying Mercury and the Muses, pulled by figures that might be interpreted as personifications of virtues or conquered territories. The imagery of the triumphal procession was popular during the Renaissance, drawing inspiration from ancient Roman celebrations of military victory and imperial power. It was frequently used to celebrate the power of the individual. In this case, the inclusion of Mercury and the Muses suggests an association with the intellectual and artistic achievements fostered by powerful patrons such as the Medici family. The medal itself was a tool to create and disseminate the image of the patron as a cultured and powerful leader. Further research into Medici commissions, and the political context of Florence at this time, would give us a fuller understanding of how this imagery functioned within a particular historical moment.