Hope on the Prow of a Broken-Masted Vessel [reverse] c. 1487

This bronze medal was created by Antico around the late 15th or early 16th century. Its circular form and low relief offer a dense layering of classical symbols, inviting a structural analysis of its visual syntax. Notice how the artist arranges the figures—a winged deity, cherubs, and Pegasus—across the small field. This careful orchestration of elements conveys an allegorical narrative of hope, or perhaps aspiration. The material itself, bronze, with its subtle sheen and earthy tone, anchors the medal in a tradition of classical art, yet it also allows for a play of light and shadow that animates the figures. The composition isn't merely decorative; it functions as a semiotic system. The broken mast, juxtaposed with the winged figures, destabilizes any singular reading of triumph, suggesting instead a complex interplay between aspiration and the fragility of human endeavor. This medal then becomes a site where classical motifs are re-evaluated.