Medal: Sixtus IV 1471

This bronze medal, created by Lysippus the Younger in 1471, depicts Pope Sixtus IV in profile. The inscription around the edge reads "SIXTUS IIII PONTIFEX MAX". This small, yet detailed work (measuring only 4.1 cm in diameter) exemplifies the Renaissance's interest in portraiture and its use of medals as commemorative objects. The medal, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a testament to the artistic skill of the period and provides a glimpse into the visual culture of 15th-century Italy.