Gregory XVI (Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, 1765-1846), Pope 1830 [obverse] 1831

This bronze medal, created by Giuseppe Cerbara in 1831, depicts Pope Gregory XVI, who reigned from 1830 to 1846. The medal portrays the Pope in profile, dressed in papal robes, holding a book in his left hand. The inscription around the edge translates to “Gregory XVI, by the Grace of God, Supreme Pontiff, the greatest, humble, successor of St. Peter.” This commemorative piece is a fine example of the portrait medal, a genre popular in the Renaissance and beyond, and showcases the skill of the artist in capturing the likeness of his subject.