Cosimo II, Medici (1590-1620) 1613

Editor: This is Guillaume Dupré's "Cosimo II, Medici," a bronze medal from around 1590-1620. The relief is quite striking, but the reverse seems almost unfinished. What does it tell us about the production of such commemorative objects? Curator: Considering it materially, the medal itself signifies an economic and social transaction. The bronze, the labour... These medals weren't just aesthetic objects but tools used to disseminate power, a form of early public relations. What does its small scale imply about its intended audience and circulation? Editor: So, beyond celebrating Cosimo, it’s actively working to shape his image? I hadn't considered the medal as a distributed commodity before. Curator: Exactly! Thinking about the materiality shifts our focus from mere portraiture to considering the medal’s active role in constructing identity and reinforcing social hierarchies through controlled production and distribution. Editor: That’s a really fascinating perspective. It highlights the power dynamics embedded in the art-making process itself.