Nero, A.D. 37-68, Roman Emperor A.D. 54 [obverse]

Art Historical Context

This striking bronze medal, created by the Italian artist Giovanni da Cavino in the mid-16th century, captures the obverse portrait of Emperor Nero, who ruled Rome from A.D. 54 to 68. Measuring just over an inch in diameter, the piece was produced through striking—a technique that allowed for precise, repeatable impressions in metal. Classified as sculpture, it reflects the Renaissance fascination with classical antiquity, when artists like Cavino revived ancient Roman imagery for collectors and scholars. Nero’s profile, rendered with careful attention to laurel wreath and imperial features, ...

About the Artist

Giovanni da Cavino · 1500–1570

**Giovanni da Cavino: The Paduan Master of Medals and Antiquity** Giovanni da Cavino, born in May 1500 in Padua to goldsmith Bartolommeo di Giovanni from Cavino d'Arsego, inherited his family's craft from an early age. His father served as his initial master until Bartolommeo's death in 1517, after which Cavino trained in the workshop of the renowned Paduan sculptor Andrea Riccio (1470–1532), who...