Callistus III (Alfonso de Borja, 1378-1458), Pope 1455 [obverse]

Art Historical Context

This bronze medal, created by the Italian medallist Andrea Guacialoti between 1455 and 1458, presents the obverse portrait of Pope Callixtus III, born Alfonso de Borja. Measuring just over four centimeters in diameter, the work captures the Spanish-born pontiff during his brief reign, which marked the first time a member of the influential Borgia family ascended to the papacy. Such small-scale bronze medals were prized in the Renaissance for their portability and durability, serving as elegant tokens of commemoration and diplomacy. Guacialoti’s craftsmanship reflects the period’s renewed interest in classical portraiture, with the pope likely shown in profile, a format borrowed from ancient Roman coins. The medium of cast bronze allowed for fine detail and a sense of permanence, underscoring the pope’s authority at a time when the Church sought to project strength amid political challenges in Italy and beyond. Today part of the National Gallery of Art’s Samuel H. Kress Collection, the medal offers visitors a tangible connection to fifteenth-century papal history and the artistic revival of medallic portraiture.