Maximiliaan I
1518
Medium
striking (metalworking)
Dimensions
3.6; 17.67
About this artwork
Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff
Art Historical Context
Behold the exquisite *Maximiliaan I*, a struck metal medal from 1518, crafted by an anonymous artist during the late Renaissance. Measuring just 3.6 cm in diameter and weighing 17.67 grams, this petite yet powerful portrait captures Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I1459–1519), a pivotal Habsburg ruler known for his ambitious expansions, chivalric ideals, and patronage of the arts. Produced in the final year of his life, it served as a commemorative token, reflecting the era's fascination with personalized imagery. Struck medals like this one represent a burgeoning Renaissance technique in metal...
About the Artist
anonymous
In the vast tapestry of art history, "Anonymous" stands not as a singular individual but as a collective designation for countless unidentified creators whose works have endured across millennia. These artists, spanning prehistoric cave painters to medieval illuminators and folk craftsmen, produced the foundational layers of human visual culture. Prior to the Renaissance, when individual fame emer...