Alfonso II of Aragon, 1448-1495, Duke of Calabria 1458, afterwards King of Naples 1494 [obverse] 1481

This bronze portrait of Alfonso II of Aragon, Duke of Calabria, was created by Andrea Guacialoti sometime between 1458 and 1494. Guacialoti captures Alfonso in the visual language of Renaissance power, a tradition that often favored the glorification of male rulers. Yet, consider what this carefully constructed image omits. What of the lives of those over whom Alfonso ruled? The complexities of gender, class and race are smoothed over in this depiction of power. The medal performs a symbolic function, reinforcing a strict social hierarchy. As you stand before this portrait, reflect on the stories that official images like these seek to tell, and the voices they often silence. What does it mean to memorialize power, and what are the ethical implications of such representation?