Victory Holding a Palm and Laurel, on a Globe with a Rudder, Club, and Cadeuceus [reverse] 1594

This bronze medal was made in France around 1600 by Philippe Danfrie the Second, and is emblematic of the period's complex relationship to classical antiquity and the social role of monarchs. We see a winged figure of Victory, holding the classical symbols of palm and laurel. She stands on a globe, accompanied by a rudder and caduceus. These are all icons of the power and good governance expected of a Renaissance prince. Surrounding the image is an inscription in Latin, which further contextualizes the artwork. Such images served to embody social ideals, and also to project power. To fully understand its meaning, we might consider its audience, its function, and how it circulated within the political and social networks of its time. It's through this kind of historical investigation that we can understand the medal not just as an artwork, but as a cultural artifact.