Gian Galeazzo Sforza, Duke of Milan, Receiving the Genoese Led by Lodovico [reverse]

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze medal, attributed to the Milanese artist Caradosso Foppa dated around 1488, captures a pivotal moment of Renaissance diplomacy on its reverse side. Measuring just 4.08 cm diameter and weighing under 22 grams, it depicts Gianazzo Sforza, the young Duke of Milan (r. 1476–1494), enthroned and receiving a delegation of Genoese led by Lodovico. Such small-scale sculptures were prized Renaissance innovations, blending classical Roman portraiture with contemporary Italian artistry to commemorate political events. Historically, the scene likely symbolizes Milan's dominance over Genoa, a prosperous maritime republic often entangled in Italian power struggles. Gian Galeazzo, though nominally duke, was overshadowed by his uncle Lodovico il Moro, whose ambitions shaped Sforza rule. Cast in bronze—a durable medium evoking antiquity—the medal's fine chasing and engraving techniques showcase Caradosso's mastery as a goldsmith-medallist, rendering intricate details like flowing robes and expressive faces on an intimate scale. Part of the Samuel H. Kress Collection at the National Gallery of Art, this piece highlights the era's fascination with medals as portable propaganda and personal talismans, bridging art, politics, and collecting in late 15th-century Italy.