Lorenzo de' Medici, il Magnifico, 1449-1492 [obverse] c. 1478

Bertoldo di Giovanni created this bronze portrait medal of Lorenzo de' Medici around 1480, using techniques of casting and chasing. Bronze, though not as precious as gold or silver, was nonetheless a valued material in Renaissance Italy, prized for its durability and capacity to capture fine detail. The making of this medal involved a complex sequence: the original design would have been modeled in wax or clay, then translated into a mold for casting the bronze. After the casting, the surface would have been refined by hand using chasing tools, to sharpen the image and bring out the details of Lorenzo's profile and the surrounding inscription. The very process of bronze casting had social significance. It required a workshop, assistants, and the expertise to manage molten metal. The resulting object, a portable image of power, reflects the patron's ambition, as well as the artist's virtuosity. This medal stands as a testament to the intersection of skilled labor, artistic vision, and the material culture of Renaissance Florence.