Portrait medal of Isabella di Capua 1546 - 1555

This bronze portrait medal of Isabella di Capua was created by Jacopo Nizolla da Trezzo, around the mid-16th century. Immediately striking is the medal's circular form, softened with the warm, subdued luster of the bronze. The texture, finely detailed, invites a close look at the subject’s features and attire. The structural elements of the medal—its shape, the inscription that forms a border, and the carefully rendered profile—all contribute to its function as a signifier of status and identity. The profile portrait, a classical trope, is here meticulously reproduced, embedding Isabella within a tradition of power and representation. It is a codified system, where each element, from the hairstyle to the clothing, speaks to the subject's position within a strict social hierarchy. Consider the use of line and form, how they come together to create an image that is not merely a likeness but a construction of nobility. It prompts us to reflect on how such objects play a crucial role in shaping perceptions and perpetuating ideologies.