Medal Depicting Maria Maddalena de' Medici (1600–1633)
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
144162
Art Historical Context
This exquisite medal, crafted by the Italian engraver Antonio Francesco Selvi in 1739, honors Maria Maddalena de' Medici (1600–1633), a prominent member of Florence's illustrious Medici dynasty. Selvi, renowned for his intricate portrait medals during the 18th century, captures the regent's dignified profile on this 8.3 cm lead piece, blending Renaissance portrait traditions with Rococo finesse. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe, it exemplifies the enduring fascination with the Medici legacy among collectors and scholars. Maria Maddalena, ...
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...