Lorenzo de' Medici, il Magnifico, 1449-1492
probably before 1489
Medium
bronze//Late cast, hollow
Dimensions
overall (diameter): 9.1 cm (3 9/16 in.) gross weight: 140.71 gr (0.31 lb.)
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1957.14.851
Art Historical Context
This bronze portrait medal, created by the Florentine artist Niccolò Fiorentino probably before 1489, honors Lorenzo de’ Medici, the influential ruler of Florence known as “il Magnifico.” Lorenzo’s patronage helped shape the early Renaissance, supporting masters such as Botticelli and the young Michelangelo. Though small in scale—measuring just over three and a half inches across—the medal served as an accessible way to circulate his likeness among allies, scholars, and collectors throughout Italy and beyond. Renaissance medals like this one marked an important artistic development, blending ...