Huwelijk van Filips II van Spanje en Anna van Oostenrijk, dochter van Maximiliaan II

About this artwork

Gift of J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze medallion, crafted by Italian sculptor and medalist Gianpaolooggini in 1570, commemorates the marriage of Philip of Spain to Anna of Austria, daughter of Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian II Measuring just 3.9 cm in diameter and weighing 7.76 grams, it exemplifies the Renaissance tradition of small-scale cast medals—portable works of art that celebrated pivotal historical events for collectors and nobility. The union, a strategic Habsburg alliance, bolstered Philip II's vast empire amid the Counter-Reformation and religious upheavals in Europe. Poggini, active in Florence and Rome, masterfully employed casting techniques to capture the royal portraits with intricate detail, likely featuring profile views typical of classical-inspired medals. These objects served as diplomatic gifts, propaganda tools, and personal talismans, blending artistry with political symbolism. Generously donated by J.M. van Gelder-Nijhoff, this piece invites us to ponder the intimate scale of grand history—holding in your palm a snapshot of 16th-century power dynamics.