Maria Theresa of Austria (1717-1780) 1769

Curator: This is a circular medallion depicting Maria Theresa of Austria, created by Giovanni Battista Nini. Its diminutive scale lends it an intimate quality. Editor: The severe profile and the Latin inscription surrounding it really speak to power and dynastic succession. It feels like carefully constructed propaganda. Curator: Precisely. Note the crisp, almost mathematical precision of the profile and the lettering, the way the light delicately models her features. Its circular format enhances its classical feel. Editor: How interesting to frame a woman this way, literally encased. Maria Theresa's reign was marked by reforms, but also by wars of succession—a complex legacy this small object seems to flatten. Curator: Perhaps, but I’d argue it distills the essence of power into pure form. The material itself, the porcelain, contributes to a sense of refined authority. Editor: I suppose it's a potent reminder that even the most seemingly objective portraits are always a carefully curated narrative. Curator: Indeed. It’s a fascinating interplay of form and historical context.