Papal Medal of Sixtus IV
1471/84
Medium
Silver
Dimensions
Diam.: 2.8 cm (1 1/8 in.)
Classification
coin
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
110120
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Papal Medal of Sixtus IV*, a exquisite silver coin from Renaissance Italy, struck between 1471 and1484 during the pontificate of Pope Sixtus IV (r. 1471–1484). Measuring just 2.8 cm in diameter, this intimate artwork captures the era's fascination with portraiture and commemorative art. Sixtus IV, born Francesco della Rovere, a pivotal patron of the arts, commissioning theine Chapel and fostering humanism in Rome—making this medal a tangible emblem of his influential reign. Crafted in silver, a precious medium that elevated its status beyond mere currency, the medal exemplifies th...
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...