Catherine de' Medici, 1519-1559, Wife of Henri II of France 1533 c. 16th century

This portrait of Catherine de' Medici, wife of Henri II of France, was made from bronze by an anonymous artist. The process of creating this medal likely involved carving a detailed mold, then using it to cast the bronze. It would have taken great skill to achieve this level of resolution. You can even see the texture of the fabric in her dress! The resulting object has a satisfying weight and a tactile, slightly rough surface. It is interesting to note that this seemingly precious object is made from bronze, a relatively common and affordable material. This implies that such portraits were popular and relatively accessible. Perhaps they were distributed among the queen's court or given as diplomatic gifts. The amount of labor involved also speaks to the economic structure of the time, and the wide availability of skilled artisans who could realize such detailed work. Ultimately, this medal reminds us that even royal portraiture is deeply entwined with the social and material conditions of its making.