Medal: Bartolomeo Colleoni 1455 - 1500

This bronze medal portraying Bartolomeo Colleoni was made in Italy in the second half of the fifteenth century by Marco Guidizani. Its form and material are rooted in the Renaissance revival of classical antiquity. It recalls the Roman tradition of commemorative coins celebrating military leaders. Here, the condottiero Colleoni, who served the Venetian Republic, is immortalized in profile. The inscription surrounding the image emphasizes his military prowess. The medal was likely commissioned by Colleoni himself, or by a patron seeking to associate themselves with his fame. It reflects a culture in which military strength was glorified and in which individuals sought to shape their own historical legacy through the production of enduring images. As art historians, we can draw on archival sources – letters, contracts, inventories – to better understand the patronage and reception of such objects, revealing the complex interplay between art, power, and social status in Renaissance Italy.