Medal: Pietro Albano 1472

This bronze medal portraying Pietro Albano was created by Savelli Sperandio in the late fifteenth century. The circular form immediately draws attention to the carefully arranged inscription along the edge, framing Albano's profile. Notice how Sperandio uses line and relief to define Albano's features, from the sharp contour of his nose to the soft waves of his hair. The composition is structured around the contrast between the flatness of the background and the three-dimensionality of the portrait. This contrast creates a dynamic tension, highlighting the subject's presence. The medal operates as a signifier of Albano's identity and status within a complex system of social representation. Its function goes beyond mere portraiture, it actively constructs and communicates a particular image of the subject. The circular format and the inscription, work together to create a complete symbolic representation. This medal thus functions as a powerful tool for constructing and disseminating meaning.