Faith and an Ox [reverse] c. 16th century

This gilt bronze medal, "Faith and an Ox," was created by Giovanni Antonio de' Rossi in the 16th century. Immediately, the radiant gold catches the eye, its circular form like a sun or halo, encapsulating a scene of allegorical depth. Note how de' Rossi uses the texture and light to give shape to the figures of Faith, with her cross, and the ox. This is not mere decoration; it's a calculated arrangement where each element’s placement and form contribute to a larger symbolic structure. The ox and instruments of sacrifice are placed at the bottom of the design, perhaps to serve as the base for 'Faith'. Here, Faith, leaning on the cross, and the ox represent not just religious devotion but a whole constellation of Renaissance values, including virtue, sacrifice and redemption. The artwork acts as a semiotic device, inviting us to decode the cultural codes embedded within its circular boundary. The interplay between Faith and the Ox pushes us to interpret the medal as a meditation on moral, social, and theological ideals during the Renaissance.