Napoleon, King of Italy, Wearing Iron Crown of Monza 1805

This 1805 medal, created by Italian artist Luigi Manfredini, depicts Napoleon Bonaparte, crowned with the Iron Crown of Lombardy, a symbol of Italian kingship. This medal, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a powerful example of Neoclassical medallic art, with its inscription reading "Napoleon, King of Italy," and the date of its creation, 1805. The detail and precision of the portrait of Napoleon reflect the stylistic sensibilities of the time, which emphasized classicism and realism.