Medal Depicting Violante Beatrice of Bavaria (1672–1731)
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
144188
Art Historical Context
This exquisite medal, crafted by Italian artist Antonio Francesco Selvi in 1739, immortalizes Violante Beatrice of (1672–1731), a noblewoman of Bavarian lineage who played a significant role in Tuscan governance as Governess of Siena during the early 18th century. posthumously eight years after her death, exemplifies the Renaissance tradition of portrait medals, which served as intimate commemorative objects for Europe's elite—often exchanged as diplomatic gifts or personal mementos. Selvi, a master medalist from Florence known for his intricate engravings and casts, employed lead with a wax ...
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...