Robert Briconnet, President of the Court of Inquiry [obverse] 1488 - 1493

This bronze medal of Robert Briconnet by Giovanni Candida presents us with a fascinating study in power and prestige. The subject, Robert Briconnet, is depicted in profile, adorned in the garments of his office as President of the Court of Inquiry. The profile portrait, a format revived from ancient coins, immediately evokes the authority of classical rulers. Consider the Roman emperors whose visages were stamped on currency, symbols of their dominion. This recalls the enduring human desire for lasting fame, echoing through the ages. The inscription encircling Briconnet's image further emphasizes his status, yet it also inadvertently ties him to the fleeting nature of power. The profile, though intended to immortalize, reminds us that all earthly authority is eventually subject to time's erosion. In the grand theater of history, Briconnet's medal is but a single act, a moment in the endless cycle of ambition, power, and remembrance.