Maria, 1528-1603, Empress 1548 [reverse]
1570/1575
![Maria, 1528-1603, Empress 1548 [reverse] by Antonio Abondio](https://images.artheonmuseum.org/nga/thumb/maria-1528-1603-empress-1548-reverse-nga-45147.webp)
Medium
silver
Dimensions
overall (height with suspension loop): 7.77 cm (3 1/16 in.) overall (diameter with ropelike silver border): 6.46 cm (2 9/16 in.) overall (diameter without border): 5.64 cm (2 1/4 in.) gross weight: 60.36 gr (0.133 lb.) axis: 12:00
Classification
Sculpture
Department
CSD
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Samuel H. Kress Collection
Accession Number
1957.14.1058.b
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This exquisite silver medal, created by the renowned Italian sculptor and medalist Antonio Abondio around 1570–1575, portrays Empress Maria on its reverse. Measuring just over two and a half inches in diameter and fitted with a suspension loop, the piece was designed to be worn or displayed as a personal token of prestige. Abondio’s refined casting technique captures delicate details in the precious metal, reflecting the high craftsmanship of Renaissance portraiture. Empress Maria, born in 1528 and crowned in 1548, was a central figure in the Habsburg dynasty, linking Spanish and Austrian courts through marriage and politics. Medals like this one served not only as artistic objects but also as portable symbols of power and alliance during a period of intense European diplomacy. The work’s inclusion in the National Gallery of Art’s Samuel H. Kress Collection underscores its enduring value as both sculpture and historical document.
About the Artist
Antonio Abondio · 1538–1591
Comment on works: medalist; wax sculptor; painter