Giovanni Carlo de' Medici, 1611-1663, Cardinal 1644 [obverse] 1740

Antonio Francesco Selvi created this bronze medal portraying Giovanni Carlo de' Medici sometime between 1679 and 1755. This was a period marked by the consolidation of power within elite circles, and the Medici family, with its influence in politics and the church, was emblematic of this era. The medal commemorates Giovanni Carlo’s appointment as Cardinal in 1644, highlighting the intertwining of religious authority and aristocratic identity. The choice of bronze, a material often associated with commemoration, further underscores the enduring legacy the Medici family sought to cultivate. The inscription around the portrait, "CAROLVS DE AETRVRIA S.R.E. CARD. MEDICES," boldly asserts Giovanni Carlo’s lineage and status. How does this portrayal reflect or perhaps seek to transcend the societal expectations placed upon members of the clergy and nobility during the 17th and 18th centuries? The medal thus serves as both a personal memento and a public declaration of power, reflecting the complex interplay between individual identity and social role within a specific historical context.