Violante Brasavola, Wife of Giambattista Pigna c. late 16th century

Giovanni Battista Cambio, called Bombarda, created this bronze medal of Violante Brasavola, wife of Giambattista Pigna, in the 16th century. As a portrait of a noblewoman, this medal provides a glimpse into the visual culture of the Italian Renaissance, and the ways in which elite women fashioned their identities. Violante is depicted in profile, wearing elaborate garments and jewelry indicative of her status. Yet, rather than presenting a completely idealized image, the artist captures a sense of her individual presence. These medals were not simply aesthetic objects but also tools for constructing and disseminating images of power. Violante’s portrayal contributes to a broader narrative about women in positions of influence and the strategies they employed to navigate a patriarchal society. The medal invites us to reflect on the complex interplay between personal identity, social expectations, and artistic representation.