Isotta degli Atti of Rimini, d. 1470

Art Historical Context

Behold this exquisite bronze medal, *Isotta degli Atti of Rimini* (d. 1470), crafted in 1446 by the Veronese artist Matteo de' Pasti. Measuring just 83 mm in diameter, this plaquette captures the profile of Isotta, a prominent figure from Rimini, rendered with classical elegance. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Department of European Sculpture andative Arts, it exemplifies the Renaissance revival of ancient Roman coin portraiture, blending historical reverence with personal commemoration. Matteo de' Pasti, a multifaceted artist known for work in architecture and medals, showcases his mastery of bronze casting here. The profile view—evident from the tags—highlights Isotta's refined features, a technique rooted in antiquity that symbolized virtue and status. Medals like this were prized Renaissance innovations: portable, collectible luxury items commissioned by elites to celebrate loved ones or alliances, bridging sculpture and numismatics. This piece, gifted to the Met in 1926 by Ogden Mills, offers a window into 15th-century Italian courtly life. Its small scale belies its cultural weight, inviting visitors to ponder the humanity behind the metal—a testament to women's roles in Renaissance patronage and the enduring allure of profile portraiture.

About the Artist

Matteo de' Pasti|Veronese · 1420–1467

Matteo de' Pasti (c. 1420–c. 1467) was an Italian medalist, illuminator, and architect active in the mid-fifteenth century, best known as the principal artist of the brilliant humanist court of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta in Rimini. The precise details of his early training are not fully documented, but he was active as a miniature painter and illuminator before establishing himself as one of th...