Portrait of a Young Man 

Friedrich Hagenauer created this bronze portrait medal of a young man in the 16th century in Germany. Portrait medals like this one were miniature sculptures that provided a portable and lasting image of the individual. The fashion for them spread throughout Europe at this time, becoming a popular method for elites to display their status. We can tell that the sitter in this portrait was a man of some wealth and position through his elaborate clothing and elegant profile. But who was he? And who was Hagenauer? Social historians can begin to answer these questions by consulting a range of documents and primary source materials, such as letters, account books, and guild records. These sources can help reveal the networks of patronage that shaped the production and reception of such artworks, shedding light on the social conditions that made them possible.