Maximilian I and Mary of Burgundy 1477 - 1482

Curator: This is a bronze medal by Giovanni Candida, depicting Maximilian I and Mary of Burgundy. Editor: The material itself gives it a weighty, permanent feel, doesn't it? Almost like holding history in your hand. Curator: Precisely! The medal was a popular means to disseminate their image and power. Mary's image, in particular, needed careful crafting considering the circumstances of her inherited rule. Editor: It speaks volumes about the labor and resources poured into something so small. How did they even achieve that level of detail? Curator: The medal’s imagery links marriage, dynastic power, and even imperial ambition. The portraits served as political tools, solidifying their union visually to a wide audience. Editor: Thinking about the production, it challenges our notions of art as solely aesthetic when its functionality as propaganda is so apparent. Curator: Indeed. The intertwining of marriage and political strategy makes these medals invaluable historical documents. Editor: It really underscores the powerful social context ingrained even in such a small, seemingly simple object.