Medal Depicting Giovanni de' Medici (1543–1562)

Art Historical Context

Welcome to the Art Institute of Chicago, where this exquisite *Medal Depicting Giovanni de Medici (1543–2)* by Antonio Francesco Selvi invites us into the grandeur of Medici legacy. Crafted in 1739, nearly two centuries after the young prince's untimely death at age 19, this small lead medallion (8.3 cm in diameter captures Giovanni—son of Grand Duke Cosimo I of Tuscany—as a symbol of Renaissance valor. Giovanni was a promising military leader who fell in battle against French forces, embodying the Medici family's blend of artistry, power, and martial prowess. Selvi, a masterful 18th-century Italian sculptor and medalist, specialized in portrait medals that revived classical traditions. Here, the innovative use of lead coated with wax creates a luminous, tactile surface, mimicking more precious metals while allowing fine details in the profile portrait and inscriptions. Medals like this were prized collectibles among Europe's elite, serving as portable emblems of history and lineage—perfect for a scholar's cabinet or a noble's pocket. This piece, housed in our Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe, highlights the enduring cultural fascination with the Medici dynasty, bridging Renaissance heroism with Rococo-era craftsmanship. A testament to how art immortalizes fleeting lives!

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...