Orazio Ricasoli Rucellai (1604-1674) 1711

Editor: This is a bronze medal of Orazio Ricasoli Rucellai, cast by Antonio Montauti. What strikes me is that the imagery on the reverse is not what I would expect of a portrait medal. What do you see here? Curator: Indeed, this is fascinating. Beyond its function as a commemorative object, consider how the imagery presents Rucellai's aspirations. Notice the emblem—a labyrinth with the motto "IN ITINERE DEFVSO LVMINI." It speaks to a journey, perhaps not just physical but intellectual. What does that suggest about his self-perception? Editor: So, he wanted to be remembered as someone on a quest for knowledge, guided by light through complexity? Curator: Precisely! It shifts our understanding of the portrait. It's not just about status, but about the enduring power of ideas and self-discovery. Editor: That's a fresh way of looking at portraiture. Thanks!