Medal Depicting Garcia de' Medici (1547–1562)
Medium
Lead with wax
Dimensions
Diam.: 8.3 cm (3 1/4 in.)
Classification
medal
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
144132
Art Historical Context
This exquisite lead medal with wax, crafted by Italian engraver Antonio Francesco Selvi in 1739, honors Garcia de' Medici (1547–1562), a lesser-known son of Cosimo I de' Medici, the powerful Grand Duke of Tuscany. Measuring just 8.3 cm in diameter, it captures the young nobleman's likeness in a classical profile portrait, a format rooted in ancient Roman coinage revived during the Renaissance. Selvi, a master medalist from Siena active in the early 18th century, was renowned for his intricate bronze and precious metal works, blending Baroque elegance with historical reverence. Garcia's short ...
About the Artist
Antonio Francesco Selvi · 1679–1755
Antonio Francesco Selvi (1679–1753) was a prominent Florentine sculptor and medallist whose exquisite bronze portraits captured the elegance of late Baroque Italy. Little is known of his early life before he arrived in Florence in 1698, but he quickly established himself in the city's vibrant artistic scene by studying under Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi, the renowned bronze-worker, sculptor, medalli...