Flowering Shrub Growing through Thorns [reverse] c. 1570

"Flowering Shrub Growing Through Thorns [reverse]" is a 16th-century bronze medal created by the Italian artist Pier Paolo Galeotti. The circular medal, which measures just over four centimeters in diameter, depicts a flowering shrub with intricate branches growing out of thorny vines, with the inscription "VIRTVTI FERANDA" around the edge. This intricate piece of art was likely created for a patron or a commemorative event, showcasing the artist's talent for meticulous detail and realistic depictions of nature. The medal, a testament to the enduring legacy of Renaissance art, is a small-scale yet powerful example of the era's fascination with symbolism and the beauty of the natural world.