Isotta Atti Malatesta (d. 1470) c. 1902

Curator: This bronze medal, currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums, depicts Isotta Atti Malatesta, who died in 1470. Although the artist is unknown, it offers a glimpse into the patronage of Renaissance Italy. Editor: It's a striking piece! The patina gives it a warm, almost tactile quality, and the elephant on the reverse side makes me wonder about the symbolic weight of the work. Curator: Indeed! The elephant served as a personal emblem, potentially alluding to virtues like strength and wisdom that Isotta embodied or aspired to. The public role of imagery was vital in consolidating power. Editor: And the material itself—bronze—would have been carefully sourced and cast, a testament to the artisan's skill. The very act of creating such an object underscores its cultural importance. Curator: Exactly, it speaks volumes about the cultural capital associated with commissioning such a personal object. What does it tell us about her aspirations within her social sphere? Editor: For me, the object becomes a lens through which to examine the labor of crafting, the social meaning of materials, and the consumer culture of its time. Curator: A powerful reminder that even small objects can unlock significant historical insights. Editor: Absolutely, and it shows how deeply intertwined materiality and meaning really are.