Papal Medal of Benedict XIII
1724/30
Medium
Gilt bronze
Dimensions
Diam.: 4.3 cm (1 11/16 in.)
Classification
bronze
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
110205
Art Historical Context
The Papal Medal of Benedict XIII, created by an unknown Italian artist between 1724 and 1730, offers a striking glimpse into early 18th-century papal commemoration. Cast in gilt bronze and measuring just 4.3 centimeters in diameter, the small circular work features a thin layer of gold applied over bronze, a technique that gave medals a luminous, jewel-like quality while keeping them durable and portable. Papal medals like this one functioned as both historical records and symbols of authority, often distributed to mark a pope’s reign or key events. Produced during Benedict XIII’s time in off...
About the Artist
Italian
The designation "Italian" in art collections typically refers to an anonymous artist or a loose attribution to works from Italian schools, rather than a specific individual. With 173 known artworks in the museum's collection, this entry likely encompasses paintings by unidentified masters active across various periods, such as the Renaissance, Baroque, or later eras. Early life and personal detail...