François I, 1494-1547, King of France 1515 [obverse]

Art Historical Context

This silver medal, struck in 1537 by Neufahrer, presents the obverse portrait of François I, King of France from 1515 to 1547. Just 4.33 centimeters and weighing 34. grams, the compact work captures monarch’s likeness in fine, a format popular for royal commemoration during the Renaissance. Its classification as sculpture reflects the era’s view of medals as three-dimensional portraits rather than mere currency. François I was a leading patron of the arts who brought Italian Renaissance ideas to France, supporting artists such as Leonardo da Vinci. Created midway through his reign, the medal likely served diplomatic or courtly purposes, projecting royal authority across Europe. Neufahrer, working in the German tradition of medal-making, employed silver for its ability to hold crisp detail while conveying prestige. Today the piece belongs to the National Gallery of Art’s Samuel H. Kress Collection, offering visitors a tangible link to sixteenth-century royal imagery and the refined techniques of Renaissance metalwork.