Rene d'Anjou, 1409-1480, King of Naples 1435-1442, and Jeanne de Laval, died 1498 [obverse] 1463

Francesco Laurana crafted this lead alloy medal featuring René d'Anjou and Jeanne de Laval. The conjoined profile portraits, a symbolic representation of marital union, evoke the Roman tradition of depicting emperors and empresses together, reflecting power and lineage. This motif transcends time; consider ancient Egyptian double portraits, where pharaohs were depicted with their consorts, or even the dual visages found on Janus coins, embodying transitions and duality. The act of immortalizing a couple in profile taps into our collective memory, echoing subconscious desires for legacy. The emotional intensity, however, lies in the subtlety of expression: the shared gaze, the delicate rendering of their features, creating a powerful, almost dreamlike connection that engages viewers on a deeply human level. The paired portrait endures, resurfacing in various forms, each time imbued with new cultural significance, yet forever bound to its primal origins of commemorating love, power, and the human desire to transcend mortality.