Johannes Pistorius,1504-1583, Theologian [obverse] 1543

Editor: This is a bronze medal portraying Johannes Pistorius, a theologian, created in 1543 by Friedrich Hagenauer. The level of detail achieved in this small, circular format is really striking. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Look at the production. Casting bronze requires a mold, skill, labor. This wasn't mass produced like a stamped coin. Hagenauer crafted a mold, likely using a wax positive meticulously sculpted to achieve this detail. We have to think about the cost. Who was commissioning these medals, and what was their purpose? Editor: So it was commissioned. The craftsmanship definitely suggests some investment. Do you think the bronze itself played a part in the overall message of the piece? Curator: Absolutely. Bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, signifies more than just material. Think about the resources needed, the mining and trade networks involved. And the very act of transforming raw materials into a likeness – isn't that a form of alchemy in itself? This medal would circulate among a select group, conveying status and intellect through its very materiality. Editor: So, it's about communicating status through materials and craftsmanship, but also potentially about the subject being immortalized in a valuable and enduring material? Curator: Precisely. The medal, unlike a painting on panel, could be easily transported, becoming a mobile symbol of identity and affiliation within intellectual circles. It's about transforming a person into a commodity, in a sense, something that could be circulated and displayed. Do you see any traces of the production? Editor: The finish looks quite smooth to me, making it hard to infer much about the process other than that someone put a lot of care into making the medal. Curator: Perhaps understanding this object within its social and economic context unveils more about its significance than just its artistic value. Editor: I see how analyzing the materials and production helps uncover so much about its original context. Thanks!