Lorenzo de' Medici (1448-1492) c. 1902

Curator: This bronze medal depicts Lorenzo de' Medici, and its manufacture provides insight into Renaissance modes of production and their intersection with political power. Editor: There is a quiet strength and authority in the figure, even in miniature. The details of the hair and clothing speak to a very specific identity. Curator: Absolutely. The inscriptions and imagery were carefully chosen to project the Medici's desired image. Look closely at the reverse of the medal: a seated figure under a laurel tree, a symbol of peace. Editor: It is fascinating how they are trying to control the narrative and the use of visual language to emphasize a particular idea of themselves. Curator: Exactly, while the material bronze itself signifies durability and classical allusion, the medal acted as a portable, reproducible piece of propaganda. Editor: The object's modest size makes it all the more impactful when thinking about its circulation and the message it carried throughout Renaissance society. Curator: Precisely. Examining this object allows us to consider labor and the material construction of identity in the early Renaissance. Editor: Indeed, this highlights how artworks have always been deeply embedded in political and social systems.