The Infante Philip of Spain, later Philip II of Spain (1527–98, r. 1556) 1549

This bronze portrait of Philip II of Spain was created by Leone Leoni, a sculptor who also worked extensively as a medalist. Consider the bronze itself: it would have been molten when cast, before being worked with chisels and files to sharpen the details. Look closely, and you can see the sharp contrast between the smooth background, achieved through careful polishing, and the roughened texture of the hair. These medals were not mere likenesses; they were struck to commemorate individuals and events, like coins but with a greater artistic license. This particular example may have been created to celebrate Philip’s ascendancy to the Spanish throne. The very act of making a portrait medal was a claim to power, as the costly production of the bronze material, and the intensive labor to cast and rework, would have been exclusive to the highest echelons of society. It is a beautiful example of how artistic expression and political ambition could come together in Renaissance Europe.