Ioannes Paleologos VII (1390-1448) c. 1902

Curator: This bronze medal portrays Ioannes Palaiologos VII, the Byzantine Emperor, although the artist remains anonymous. Editor: It’s captivating! The figures are so crisp, like little worlds captured in metal. The Emperor looks so certain, so self-assured. But there’s a melancholy too, isn't there? Curator: Medals such as this were often commissioned by rulers to assert power and project specific imagery. Notice the inscriptions; they frame the portrait and narrative scene, reinforcing the emperor's status. Editor: I love how the scene on the reverse offers a glimpse beyond the courtly facade. The emperor on horseback, figures in tow…it suggests travel, movement, ambition. Maybe a touch of vulnerability too. Curator: Consider the historical context: the Byzantine Empire was declining during Palaiologos's reign. This medal might be read as a form of propaganda, an attempt to rally support. Editor: Right. All that glitters is not gold. The medal is not just about the Emperor's power; it’s a poignant artifact from a time of great upheaval. Curator: Precisely. It reveals how art becomes a tool for navigating socio-political turbulence. Editor: A beautiful, complex memento, it makes you wonder about the stories etched into the metal.