Medal Depicting Virginia de' Medici (1568–1615)
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
144143
Art Historical Context
Step into the Renaissance legacy with this exquisite medal by Antonio Francesco Selvi, in 1739. Titled *Medal Depicting Virginia' Medici (15681615)*, it honors the noblewoman from Florence's illustrious Medici family, known for their patronage of arts and politics during the late Renaissance. Virginia, daughter of Grand Duke Cosimo I, embodied the era's blend of power and intrigue, marrying into the Orsini family and navigating the turbulent courts of Italy. Selvi's posthumous tribute, over a century after her death, reflects the enduring fascination with Medici figures in 18th-century Europe....
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...