Eleonora di Toledo, 1522-1562, Duchess of Florence and 1st Wife of Cosimo I de' Medici 1539 [reverse] 1551

Domenico Poggini created this bronze medal of Eleonora di Toledo in the mid-16th century, a time when portraiture served as a powerful tool for constructing identity and status. As the Duchess of Florence and wife of Cosimo I de' Medici, Eleonora was a woman of immense political influence. Her image on this medal broadcasts her power, but also reflects the limited roles afforded to women in Renaissance society. The profile view, common in commemorative portraiture, presents Eleonora as a figurehead, embodying the ideals of female virtue and aristocratic dignity, while the inscription clearly states her titles. The creation of the medal, a portable and reproducible object, speaks to the circulation of power and the way in which identity was carefully crafted and disseminated. It is a reminder of the complex interplay between personal identity, political power, and artistic representation.