Medal: Sultan Mehmed II by Bertoldo di Giovanni

Medal: Sultan Mehmed II 1480

portrait

medal

portrait image

sculpture

charcoal drawing

sculptural image

portrait reference

unrealistic statue

portrait head and shoulder

framed image

mid-section and head portrait

men

profile

statue

This bronze medal, created by the Florentine artist Bertoldo di Giovanni in 1480, depicts Sultan Mehmed II, the Ottoman conqueror of Constantinople. The medal is a fine example of the Renaissance period's interest in portraiture and historical figures. The inscription, "IMPERATORE GRETE ASIE ACTRAPSVMNZI," translates to "Emperor of Greece, Asia, and Trapezus," highlighting Mehmed II's vast empire. This piece, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, is a testament to the artistic skill of the period and offers a glimpse into the historical figures who shaped the world.