Alexander VII (Pope, 1655–67)

Art Historical Context

This delicate bronze medal, crafted by Roman artist Gasparo Mor in 1661, Pope Alexander VII (r 1655–1667) in a classical profile portrait. At just 1 5/8 inches (4.1 cm) in diameter, it exemplifies the scale of 17th-century Italian plaquettes—small, low-relief sculptures prized for their portability and precision. Produced in Rome during the Baroque era, such medals were often cast to commemorate papal figures, blending Renaissance portrait traditions with the era's dramatic realism. Bronze, a durable and prestigious medium, allowed Morone to render fine details like the pope's facial features...