Venetia and Two Furies [reverse] c. 1457

This bronze medal of Venetia and Two Furies was crafted by Antonio Gambello in the 15th century. The circular format of the medal immediately draws the eye to the central allegorical figure of Venice. She is framed by the inscription ‘Venetia Magna’ which wraps around the circumference and emphasizes the city's power and authority. The composition uses an interplay of vertical and horizontal lines. The figure sits squarely, her body a stable horizontal base, while she wields a vertical sword, symbolizing justice and military might. The two furies cower below her in defeat. The medal employs a semiotic language where the central figure acts as a signifier of Venetian dominance. The meticulous detail and relief work, particularly in the figure’s drapery and the defeated furies, highlight the technical skill and artistic conventions of the Renaissance. Gambello's strategic deployment of form and symbol thus invites us to decode Venice not just as a place, but as a complex embodiment of power, justice, and victory.