Carlo Grati, noble of Bologna 1480 - 1490

This bronze medal, created by the Italian Renaissance artist Savelli Sperandio between 1480 and 1490, depicts Carlo Grati, a noble from Bologna. The medal features Grati in profile, wearing a cap and a finely detailed, elaborately patterned garment. The inscription around the edge identifies the sitter and uses the Latin phrase "miles bononiensis," which means "soldier of Bologna." This piece is an example of Renaissance portraiture and the artist's use of the medal as a medium to capture the likenesses of prominent individuals.