Niccolo Ursini, graaf van Pitigliano en Nola, benoemd tot veldheer van Venetië 1509

This is a bronze medal made in Italy to commemorate Niccolo Ursini’s appointment as commander of Venice. It’s an interesting example of how art can be used to create and promote a public image, especially in the context of Renaissance politics and warfare. The medal’s design is split into two sides. One side features a profile portrait of Ursini, dressed in armor, highlighting his military status. The inscription around the portrait identifies him and his titles. The other side depicts him on horseback, leading his troops, visually reinforcing his role as a military leader. The imagery is classical in style, deliberately associating Ursini with the grandeur and authority of ancient Roman generals. These medals would have been distributed among the political and military elite, serving as a form of propaganda, reinforcing Ursini's power and legitimacy. To better understand it, we can look to archival records from the period, including letters and administrative documents, to understand the political context in which the medal was created and distributed, shedding light on the social conditions that shaped its production and reception.