Francesco Redi
Date unknown
Medium
Bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 8.6 cm (3 3/8 in.)
Classification
medal
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
151381
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bronze medal, titled * Redi* and crafted by the Italian artist Massimiliano Soldanienzi, captures the intimate artistry of European medallic sculpture. With a diameter of just 8.6 cm (3 3/8 in.), it exemplifies the medal's role as a portable, collectible form of portraiture, blending sculpture's three-dimensional depth with the precision of engraving. Soldani-Benzi, active in the late Baroque period, mastered bronze casting to produce highly detailed reliefs that honored notable figures. Medals like this were prized in 17th- and 18th-century Europe as both personal talismans an...