Herstel van de stadsmuren van Ostia, ter ere van Sixtus IV en zijn neef kardinaal Giuliano Della Rovere 1494

This bronze medal commemorates the restoration of the city walls of Ostia, celebrating Pope Sixtus IV and his nephew Cardinal Giuliano Della Rovere. The medal's creation involved skilled metalworking, likely through processes like casting or striking, requiring experienced hands to transfer detailed designs into metal. The material itself, bronze, was chosen not only for its durability, but also for its ability to capture fine details, allowing for intricate depictions of the Pope's profile on one side, and the newly restored city walls on the other. The act of minting medals like these was a political statement. These medals were often distributed among elites to celebrate and solidify their power. The production of such medals involved not only artistic skill, but also the backing of powerful patrons. In this way, the medal allows us to consider the relationship between art, power, labor, and class in the Renaissance. By considering the materials, and processes used, we gain insight into the complex social and political context in which this seemingly simple medal was made.