Markiezin Girolama Sacrata van Ferrara, weduwe van Pietro Aloisio Farnese (?) 1555

This bronze medal, crafted by Pastorino de Pastorini, portrays Markiezin Girolama Sacrata van Ferrara, offering a glimpse into Renaissance ideals and symbols. On the reverse, we see a figure, perhaps Diana, goddess of the hunt, holding a spear, juxtaposed with a hound—symbols of the chase, but also of loyalty and vigilance. Such imagery isn't confined to the Renaissance; echoes resonate through antiquity, surfacing even in ancient Greek depictions of Artemis, also often shown with her hunting dog. This connection bridges eras, revealing a persistent thread in our collective unconscious. The posture, the spear, the accompanying animal—these are not mere aesthetic choices. They are imbued with emotional weight, tapping into primal feelings of pursuit, protection, and the untamed spirit of nature. This medal, therefore, becomes more than a portrait; it's a conduit through time, reminding us of how symbols are continuously resurrected, reformed, and remembered.