Alessandro de' Medici, 1512-1537, 1st Duke of Florence 1523 [obverse] 1500 - 1571

This is a silver medal portraying Alessandro de' Medici, made by Benvenuto Cellini in Florence, presumably around the time Alessandro was the first Duke of Florence. The image itself is a fascinating artifact of Renaissance political culture. Notice how Alessandro is rendered in profile, like a Roman emperor, with an inscription that emphasizes his ducal title. This was a period when Italian city-states were consolidating power, and rulers like Alessandro were keen to legitimize their authority through visual propaganda. The very commissioning of such an object points to the institutional role of art in shaping public perception. To truly understand this piece, we'd need to delve into the Medici family's history, Florence's political landscape, and Cellini's role as a court artist. Examining archival documents and contemporary accounts would reveal the medal's intended audience and its impact on the social and political life of the time. Ultimately, its meaning is contingent on the context in which it was created and used.