Sigismondo Malatesta (Lord of Rimini 1432, lived 1417–1468) 1445

Pisanello cast this bronze medal of Sigismondo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini, in Italy, sometime around the 1440s. It’s a portrait of a Renaissance condottiero, a military leader, whose profile is framed by an inscription lauding his service to the church. The image operates within a tradition of power portraiture, recalling Roman coins and busts that flattered their subjects. Sigismondo was no doubt aware of these associations, using them to boost his own status as a regional strongman. But Malatesta's reputation as a cultured man was shadowed by accusations of cruelty and sacrilege. In fact, he was excommunicated by the Pope not long after this medal was made. We can see the artwork as a piece of propaganda, intended to present a sanitized image of the man. By looking at letters, diaries, and court records from the time, we can peel back the layers of officialdom and get closer to the truth. The historian's job is to see how the artwork participates in the construction of reputation and the play of power.