Charles VIII, King of France 1489 - 1500

This bronze medal, created by the Italian artist Niccolò Fiorentino between 1489 and 1500, portrays Charles VIII, King of France, in profile. The medal, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features a detailed rendering of the king's features, including his distinctive long nose. The inscription surrounding the portrait, "CAROLVS OCTAVVS ANGORVM REX SALENENCIC," identifies Charles as the eighth king of the House of Anjou. This Renaissance-era medal exemplifies the artistic interest in portraiture and the growing prominence of individual figures in the visual arts.