Medal: Bust of Gianbattista Orsini
Unknown Artist
late 15th–early 16th century
Medium
Bronze (Copper alloy with warm brown patina).
Dimensions
Diam. 4.1 cm, wt. 40.47 g.
Classification
Medals
Culture
Italian, Rome
Department
Robert Lehman Collection
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number
1975.1.1256
Tags
Art Historical Context
This exquisite bronze medal, featuring a profile bust of Gianbattista Orsini,ails from late 15- to early 16th-century, a golden age of Renaissance portraiture. Crafted by an unknown artist, it captures the nobleman's stern gaze and intricate details—from the flowing hair to the finely rendered drapery of his garment—in a classical profile style inspired by ancient Roman coins. Orsini, a member of one of Rome's most powerful, is commemorated here in a medium that was hugely popular during the Renaissance: small-scale medals served as personal tokens, diplomatic gifts, or memorials, blending scu...