Empress Maria 1575

sculpture

portrait

medal

portrait image

charcoal drawing

charcoal art

male portrait

portrait reference

portrait head and shoulder

framed image

sculpture

black and white

mid-section and head portrait

men

decorative-art

profile

statue

"Empress Maria" is a 1575 silver medal by Italian Renaissance artist Antonio Abondio. The medal, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, features a profile portrait of the Holy Roman Empress Maria. Abondio, known for his finely detailed portraits, captures Maria's regal bearing and ornate attire, including a ruff and elaborate headdress. The inscription "MARIA IMPER." (Maria, Empress) encircles the portrait, along with the date "MD LXXV" (1575) and the artist's signature "A. ABOND." This small-scale work showcases Abondio's skill in capturing likeness and conveying the grandeur of his subject.