Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, 1417-1468, Lord of Rimini and Fano [obverse] c. 1450 - 1451

This bronze medal, created by Matteo de' Pasti between 1450 and 1451, depicts Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini and Fano, in profile. The inscription around the edge of the medal identifies the subject as “Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta.” The medal is an example of Renaissance portraiture, where the artist aimed to capture the likeness and personality of the sitter. This small-scale work highlights the artistic development of the medal as a form of portraiture in the 15th century.