Borso d'Este, 1413-1471, Marquess of Ferrara 1450, Duke of Modena and Reggio 1452 [obverse] 1460

This medal, crafted by Jacopo Lixignolo, portrays Borso d'Este, Duke of Ferrara, in profile. The profile portrait itself, an ancient Roman device, speaks of power and continuity. Note the Duke's distinctive headwear, adorned with a cross. This emblem, repeated on his garment, is not purely religious. Consider how similar emblems appear on Byzantine emperors' crowns, signaling divinely sanctioned rule. Such symbols possess an enduring psychological impact. They tap into our collective memory, evoking the authority of rulers past. These motifs are passed down, shifting subtly. A cross, a symbol of sacrifice and redemption, transforms into a marker of earthly power. It reveals how symbols evolve, adapting to new contexts and reinforcing the ruler's dominion. The weight of history presses upon us. Such imagery resurfaces, endlessly reinterpreted in the theater of power.