Allegory of Peace(?), with Abundance Seated on a Bull and Psyches Flying About [reverse]

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze medal, crafted by the Italian Mannerist sculptor Gianpaolo Pogg in 1564, just 3.87 cm in diameter, exemplifying the Renaissance fascination with small-scale, intricate sculptures. Poggini, a Florentine artist active under Medici patronage, was renowned for his medals and plaquettes, which blended classical mythology with allegorical themes. Produced via the lost-wax casting technique, this piece showcases the period's mastery of bronze, a durable medium prized for its rich patina and ability to capture fine details in miniature form. The reverse depicts an allegorical scene possibly symbolizing Peace, with Abundance (personified as a seated figure) atop a bull—a nod to classical motifs of fertility and prosperity—surrounded by fluttering Psyches, evoking souls or cupids in harmonious flight. Created during a time of relative stability in Italy following turbulent wars, such imagery reflected humanist ideals of tranquility and plenty, often commissioned for collectors or as diplomatic gifts. Housed in the National Gallery of Art thanks to a gift from Lisa and Leonard Baskin, this rare survival highlights Poggini's technical virtuosity and the cultural role of medals as portable art objects, bridging sculpture and numismatics in 16th-century Europe.