Admiraal Andrea Doria 1537

This bronze medal of Admiral Andrea Doria was crafted by Leone Leoni. On one side, a portrait of Doria is accompanied by a trident, an emblem of maritime power, echoing Neptune, the god of the sea. This trident, a symbol of command over the waters, is a visual echo of ancient authority. We see it wielded by figures across time, each invoking the primal power of the sea. It's a motif that resurfaces in various guises, bearing witness to humankind's enduring fascination with maritime dominion. Think of the emotional weight carried by these symbols, each appearance a negotiation with history. The ship on the reverse is not merely a vessel; it's a floating city-state, a symbol of Genoese power projected across the waves. The ship ploughing through the waves is an enduring image of navigation, exploration, and the human drive to explore the unknown, embodying the psychological drama of confronting the vast, indifferent ocean. These are not static emblems but rather a dynamic visual language, constantly reshaped by the currents of history and human imagination.