Portrait of Cardinal Pietro Bembo, Venetian Humanist (b. 1470, Cardinal 1538, d. 1547) 1542 - 1552

This bronze portrait of Cardinal Pietro Bembo was made by Danese Cattaneo, a sculptor active in 16th-century Venice. The casting process, by which molten metal is poured into a mold, allowed the artist to create multiple identical copies of the Cardinal's image. This was crucial to the function of such portrait medals: to rapidly disseminate an individual's likeness and reputation. The warm, lustrous quality of the bronze speaks to the value placed on the material itself, not just the image it conveys. The medal is small, but the labor involved is significant; the design of the mold, the careful pouring of the metal, and the finishing work required a high degree of skill. Considering the material and its making allows us to appreciate the artistry of Cattaneo and the cultural significance of this portrait. It collapses the distinction between art and craft, reminding us of the integral relationship between materials, processes, and the society that values them.