Antonia del Balzo, 1441-1538, Wife of Gianfrancesco Gonzaga di Rodigo 1479 [obverse] c. 1487

This is a bronze portrait medal of Antonia del Balzo, wife of Gianfrancesco Gonzaga di Rodigo, created by Antico. Note the circular form, which immediately sets up a series of formal relationships between the edge of the disc and the figure within. The profile of Antonia is rendered in low relief. Her features are delicate, with close attention paid to the details of her hair, headdress, and the intricate necklace she wears. The use of bronze gives the medal a sense of weight and permanence, a claim to an immutable value. The inscription that encircles the portrait functions both as a frame and as a linguistic signifier, reinforcing her identity and status. The medal’s small scale invites a close, intimate viewing experience, yet the inscription reminds us that this image is also a public declaration. This contrast between the intimate and the public, the individual and the representational, creates a fascinating tension, and it functions not just aesthetically, but as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse.