Alexander VII (Pope, 1655–67) 1661

Gasparo Morone's "Alexander VII" is a 17th-century silver medal depicting Pope Alexander VII in profile. This small, finely detailed work of art showcases Morone's skill in portraiture. The inscription around the medal's edge, "ALEXAN VII PONT. MAX. A VII," identifies the subject and his papal reign. This piece, now in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, represents the artistic and historical significance of medals as commemorative objects during the Renaissance and Baroque periods.