Simon Costière of Lyon, 1469-after 1572, Goldsmith and Jeweler 1566

This bronze portrait medallion of Simon Costière was made by Pierre II Woeiriot de Bouzey in 1566. The piece commemorates Costière, a goldsmith and jeweler from Lyon, during a period when Jewish identity was fraught with legal and social complexities. This work offers us a glimpse into the intersection of religious identity and professional status during the Renaissance. Costière's occupation is explicitly noted, indicating its importance to his identity, yet being Jewish in 16th-century Europe meant navigating a landscape of discrimination and forced conversions. The emotional weight of this piece lies in its tension: Costière’s calm, assured profile is framed by an inscription that serves as both a marker of identity and a potential signifier of vulnerability in a society that often marginalized Jewish people. The medallion stands as an enduring reminder of the personal and professional lives of individuals living within complex social and political landscapes.