Conrad Peutinger, 1465-1547, Humanist and Antiquarian 

Hans Schwarz created this silver medal of Conrad Peutinger sometime in the early 16th century. Crafted from silver, the medal's creation involved skilled metalworking techniques, likely including casting and chasing. The choice of silver as a material speaks to the status of the subject, Conrad Peutinger, a humanist and antiquarian. Its preciousness and durability imbue the medal with a sense of importance. The finely detailed portrait, achieved through careful engraving, captures Peutinger's likeness. The creation of such a medal involved specialized labor. From mining the silver to the craftsmanship of the artist, each step in the process reflects broader economic systems of production and consumption. This kind of object speaks to the relationship between artistic skill, economic exchange, and the desire for recognition and remembrance. Considering materials, making, and context allows us to appreciate the medal not just as a portrait, but as a product of its time, reflecting the values and structures of early 16th-century society.