Medal Depicting Giovanni de' Medici (1467-1498)
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
144077
Art Historical Context
This exquisite medal, crafted by Italian sculptor Antonio Francesco Selvi 1739, honors Giovanni de' Medici (1467–1498), the dashing Renaissance military leader known as "Giovanni delle Nere" for his black-banded troops. Produced over two centuries after Giovanni's early death from battle wounds, it reflects the enduring Medici legacy in Florence, where the family wielded immense political and cultural power during the Renaissance. Selvi, a Sienese artist renowned for his intricate medals and wax portraits, created this piece near the end of his career, blending Baroque precision with classical...
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...