Faith [reverse] 1556

Curator: Immediately, this bronze relief commands attention. The color has a mesmerizing depth and is dominated by an image that reminds me of triumph, a warm glow emanating from its details. Editor: Agreed, the effect is potent, and the patina does add warmth, though I find it's more pensive than celebratory. This is Giovanni Antonio de' Rossi’s, "Faith [reverse]", created in 1556. See how the allegorical figure occupies nearly the entire circular frame? Curator: It's beautifully rendered. She seems caught in mid-stride. One hand offers a chalice, while the other supports, well, what appears to be a stack of books, perhaps scripture? The weight in her expression hints that they are heavy. Editor: Yes, a book or perhaps the tablets of the Law, representing the Word. The chalice, of course, symbolizes the Eucharist. It all forms a potent visual language common in Renaissance iconography representing "Faith." She is a conduit, offering knowledge and the promise of salvation. I would hazard a guess that there's a deep sense of duty there too. Curator: It’s like a snapshot of conviction! I see now that it is "Faith [reverse]". It feels, despite the seemingly simple composition, to embody a story or myth within the boundaries of this medallion. The raised inscription around the border adds another layer, making me feel as if this isn't simply about faith, but something more particular. Editor: Absolutely. Medallions were often created as personal declarations, commissions for members of court, and circulated within erudite social circles. A portable monument. This bronze version carries the weight of intention—both spiritual and worldly. Curator: Exactly, and because it’s in reverse, it strikes me like an imprint—as though meaning presses itself onto the world, leaving its mark, just like our bronze cast here. The shadow of faith, eternally imprinted. Editor: Yes, the physicality of the relief underscores this perfectly. A reminder of what is left behind when something like faith has run its course. A reminder that we, too, leave our imprints, reversed and complex, on the world.