Isotta degli Atti of Rimini, d. 1470 1446

Matteo de' Pasti created this bronze medal of Isotta degli Atti of Rimini in the mid-fifteenth century. The humanist revival of classical antiquity in Renaissance Italy saw new institutional structures emerge for the creation and circulation of art. Medals like these became a popular way to commemorate individuals and events, acting almost like a modern-day photograph. Their size allowed for easy replication and distribution, and their classical style associated the subject with the power and prestige of the ancient world. Here, Isotta degli Atti, wife of the powerful lord of Rimini, Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, is presented in profile, like a Roman empress on a coin. The inscription names her and identifies her with the city. What does it mean that Isotta is given a public role that was previously reserved for men? Was this part of a strategy to reinforce the Malatesta family’s power? To answer these questions, we can turn to historical sources that illuminate the dynamics of power in Renaissance Italy. These can help us interpret the medal not just as a portrait, but as a cultural artifact.