Costanzo Sforza, 1447-1483, Lord of Pesaro 1473 [obverse]

Art Historical Context

This bronze medal, created in 1475 by the Italian artist Gianfrancesco Enzola, portrays Costanzo Sforza, who became Lord of Pesaro in 1473. As the obverse side of a commemorative piece, it captures the young ruler in profile, a format that echoes ancient Roman coins and reflects the Renaissance revival of classical ideals. Sforza, a member of the powerful Milanese dynasty, used such medals to assert his authority and cultural sophistication during a period of shifting political alliances in Renaissance Italy. Enzola, active in the courts of northern Italy, specialized in small-scale bronze wo...