Francesco Maria de' Medici, 1660-1711, Cardinal 1686, Duke of Guastalla 1709

Art Historical Context

This exquisite lead medallion, crafted by the Italian engraver Antonio Francescovi after 1709, immortalizes Francesco Maria de' Medici (1660–1711), a prominent figure in the illustrious Medici dynasty. Measuring just 8.9 cm in diameter and 114.14 grams, it captures the cardinal—elevated in 1686—and later Duke of Guastalla 1709, during the waning years of Medici influence in Tuscany. Selvi, active in early 18th-century Florence specialized in finely detailed portrait medals that blended Baroque grandeur with intimate portraiture. The choice of lead as a medium is particularly noteworthy, as it was often used for artist proofs or durable workshop models, allowing for precise casting and multiple strikes while preserving fine details like facial features and insignia. These small-scale sculptures served as portable emblems of power and piety, circulated among elites to commemorate achievements and lineage. Francesco Maria's dual roles as churchman and ruler reflect the era's intertwining of spiritual and secular authority. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's sculpture collection through the generous gift of Lisa and Leonard Baskin, this medallion offers a tactile glimpse into Medici legacy and the artistry of medallic sculpture—a democratic art form bridging painting and jewelry in Renaissance and Baroque traditions.

About the Artist

Antonio Francesco Selvi · 1679–1755

Antonio Francesco Selvi (1679–1753) was a prominent Florentine sculptor and medallist whose exquisite bronze portraits captured the elegance of late Baroque Italy. Little is known of his early life before he arrived in Florence in 1698, but he quickly established himself in the city's vibrant artistic scene by studying under Massimiliano Soldani-Benzi, the renowned bronze-worker, sculptor, medalli...