Paolo Giovio, Historian and Prelate, Bishop of Nocera (d. 1552) 1552

Francesco da Sangallo's bronze medal of Paolo Giovio, a historian and prelate, is a fine example of Renaissance portraiture. The medal, created in 1552, depicts Giovio in profile, wearing a fur-trimmed robe and a cap. The inscription around the edge identifies him as "Paolo Giovio, Count, Bishop of Nocera." Sangallo's meticulous attention to detail is evident in the rendering of Giovio's features and the inscription, which adds historical context to the work. This small-scale, intimate portrait exemplifies the Renaissance interest in individual identity and the emerging importance of historical documentation.