Carlo Grati, noble of Bologna 1480 - 1490

Curator: Here we have "Carlo Grati, noble of Bologna," a relief sculpture made sometime between 1480 and 1490, attributed to Savelli Sperandio. Editor: Immediately, it strikes me as a little austere. The gray tone, the severe profile, and even the encircling text feel formal, almost…official. Curator: I find a stark beauty in its simplicity. Sperandio really captures the spirit of the Italian Renaissance. Think about the revival of classical forms, the focus on humanism. This medal celebrates an individual, Carlo Grati, situating him in the world of civic pride and identity. Editor: Civic pride yes, but pride within very specific social parameters. Who gets remembered, whose profile gets immortalized like this? These portrait medals largely served the patriarchy and consolidated specific expressions of power. They leave very little room to consider perspectives from people on the margins of society. Curator: It’s a great point to acknowledge. But, if you consider the piece itself, don’t you admire how much detail Sperandio could convey on such a small scale? The lines of Carlo's cap, the cut of his tunic – the intricacy creates such compelling dimensionality. Editor: I do recognize that intricacy, though I find it all serving a specific project – nobility. The inclusion of the Latin inscription functions in similar ways. We must interrogate the structures that privilege such commemorations. Curator: Sure, we need that interrogation. I guess when I look at it I see that search for enduring fame, or even the dream that someone, centuries later, would still care to ponder your image and legacy. And it reminds me how fragile our own holds on history really are. Editor: It’s fragile, but in this context that fragility impacts differently based on who you are. For some, anonymity is systematically enforced. In a way, that's what keeps me hooked with historical artworks. Their silence forces a conversation about who gets remembered and who’s systematically excluded. Curator: It also invites us to remember those absences with compassion. Editor: Precisely!