Saint Jerome in the Wilderness [reverse] 1540

This small, intricately worked gold medal was made by Andrea Spinelli around 1547. It depicts Saint Jerome in the wilderness. The preciousness of the material speaks to the wealth of the patron who commissioned it, but also to the skill of the artist. Spinelli had to be expert in handling the metal, preparing the die, and striking the image to obtain such fine detail. Note the texture of the saint’s beard, the articulation of his muscles, and the way the landscape elements recede into the distance. While the image refers to religious devotion, the technology of minting calls to mind the production of currency and its attendant social structures. It is a reminder that all art, even that with sacred content, is bound up with questions of labor, value, and exchange. So, next time you see a shiny gold object, remember that its beauty is only part of the story. Consider the processes and context that brought it into being.