Model for a portrait medal of Francesco Redi 1677

Massimiliano Soldani created this wax model for a portrait medal of Francesco Redi sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Redi was a physician, naturalist, and writer, and this medal encapsulates the cultural status that scientists like him had begun to acquire at this time. Made in Florence, the medal reflects the revival of classical art forms during the Renaissance, which continued into the Baroque period. Medals like this one were often commissioned by rulers or wealthy patrons to commemorate important events or honor prominent individuals. They acted as both personal mementos and public declarations of status, wealth, and cultural affiliation. Soldani was known for his expertise in wax modeling and bronze casting, skills he acquired through training at the Medici court. The Medici family were important patrons of the arts and sciences, and this medal can be seen as part of their broader effort to promote Florentine culture and intellectual life. To fully understand this portrait, scholars examine letters, inventories, and other archival documents that shed light on the cultural and institutional contexts that gave rise to it.