Charging Bull with Cut Horns [reverse] 1567

This small bronze medal, known as ‘Charging Bull with Cut Horns’, was created by Pier Paolo Galeotti in the 16th century. Though small in scale, it opens up a vast territory for exploration. Look closely and you'll see the dynamic image of a bull, its horns seemingly cut off. This was not made through traditional sculptural means, like carving. Instead, it was likely cast using a mold, a process allowing for multiples to be made. The very act of striking a medal carried cultural weight, historically used to commemorate events, celebrate individuals, or circulate political ideas. The image is everything here. The choice of bronze speaks to the era's fascination with classical antiquity, while the bull – its horns cut – might represent a specific historical event, now lost to time. The medal asks us to consider the relationship between art, power, and society in Renaissance Italy, and how even the smallest objects can carry significant cultural weight.