Medal Depicting Alessandro de' Medici (1510–1537)

Art Historical Context

This finely crafted medal, created by the Italian medalist Antonio Francesco Selvi 1739, honors Alessandro de' Medici (1510–1537), the ambitious first Duke of Florence. Measuring just 8.3 cm in diameter it is made of lead combined with wax—a distinctive medium that allowed for detailed casting and a tactile, almost sculptural quality. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Painting and Sculpture of, this piece exemplifies the enduring tradition of portrait medals as miniature masterpieces. Alessandro, an illegitimate son of the powerful Medici family (possibly fathered by Pope Clement VII), rose to prominence in the turbulent politics of 16th-century Italy. As Duke from 1532 until his assassination in 1537, he symbolized the Medici shift from republican rule to hereditary dukedom, blending Renaissance patronage with military rule amid Florence's factional strife. Selvi's medal, struck over two centuries later, revives his likeness during the Enlightenment era, when interest in historical figures fueled neoclassical revivals. Medals like this were prized for their portability and precision, serving as personal talismans or diplomatic gifts. The lead-wax technique highlights Selvi's skill in capturing subtle textures and expressions, bridging Renaissance portraiture with 18th-century artistry—a testament to Alessandro's lasting cultural intrigue.

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...