Niccolo Piccinino

About this artwork

diameter 8,8 cm x gewicht 215,79 gr

Art Historical Context

This cast medal titled *Niccolo Piccinino*, created between 1800 and 1900 after Antonio Pisanello, measures just 8.8 cm in diameter and weighs 215.79 grams. Pisanello, a master of the early Renaissance, is celebrated for elevating the portrait medal into an art form that blended classical antiquity with contemporary portraiture. Though the original designs date to the fifteenth century, this later casting demonstrates the enduring appeal of his work across centuries. Niccolò Piccinino was a prominent condottiero, or mercenary captain, whose military exploits made him a fitting subject for commemorative art. Pisanello’s medals often honored such powerful figures, using profile portraits on the obverse paired with symbolic imagery on the reverse to convey status and virtue. The casting technique allowed these small, durable objects to be reproduced and circulated widely, functioning much like Renaissance calling cards or tokens of alliance. Today, this example offers visitors a tangible connection to both fifteenth-century Italian court culture and the nineteenth-century revival of interest in early Renaissance masters. Its modest size belies the sophisticated artistry and historical storytelling preserved in metal.