Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, 1417-1468, Lord of Rimini and Fano [obverse] c. 1446 - 1450

This bronze medal of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta was created by Matteo de' Pasti in the 15th century. The circular form of the medal, coupled with its low relief, creates a self-contained world. Observe how the artist uses line and form to construct Malatesta’s profile. The clean, sharp lines define his features, lending a sense of classical order and idealization. The inscription, carefully placed around the perimeter, frames the portrait and reinforces the medal's symbolic function. This combination of text and image creates a semiotic interplay, where the inscription anchors the meaning of the portrait, identifying and valorizing the subject. The piece flattens three-dimensionality, emphasizing the symbolic over the real. This flattening can be interpreted as a deliberate move away from naturalistic representation towards a more symbolic, structured portrayal of power and identity. The medal becomes not just a likeness, but a carefully constructed signifier within a broader system of Renaissance visual language.