Frederick III, 1415-1493, King of Germany 1440, Holy Roman Emperor 1452 

This bronze medal of Frederick III, King of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, was created by Georg Schweigger in the 17th century. Although made much later, this artwork is a portrait of a prominent figure from the Early Renaissance, a period when humanist values began to spread across Europe, and powerful rulers sought to legitimize their reign through visual representation. The circular format and profile view of the ruler are reminiscent of ancient Roman coins, an association that speaks to the values of the emperor, and the society that he governed. Schweigger was working in the context of the baroque era, where patronage from the higher echelons of society was paramount. As art historians, we seek to understand the ways in which the artwork reflects the culture and institutions of its time, looking at resources such as letters, financial records, and other archival material. Ultimately, the meaning of the artwork is contingent on the circumstances of its production and reception.