Medal Depicting Maria Maddalena de' Medici (1600–1633)
Medium
Lead with wax
Dimensions
Diam.: 8.3 cm (3 1/4 in.)
Classification
medal
Department
Painting and Sculpture of Europe
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
144162
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This exquisite medal, crafted by the Italian engraver Antonio Francesco Selvi in 1739, honors Maria Maddalena de' Medici (1600–1633), a prominent member of Florence's illustrious Medici dynasty. Selvi, renowned for his intricate portrait medals during the 18th century, captures the regent's dignified profile on this 8.3 cm lead piece, blending Renaissance portrait traditions with Rococo finesse. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe, it exemplifies the enduring fascination with the Medici legacy among collectors and scholars. Maria Maddalena, daughter of Grand Duke Cosimo II, served as regent for her young son, Ferdinand II, from 1621 to 1628, navigating Tuscany's turbulent politics amid Habsburg influences. Created over a century after her death, Selvi's medal reflects 18th-century neoclassical revival, where such works commemorated historical figures as symbols of power and patronage. Medals like this were prized as portable art, akin to Renaissance coins, for diplomatic gifts or private cabinets of curiosity. The unusual lead medium, often paired with wax for detailed impressions or seals, allowed for affordable experimentation in modeling fine features and drapery. This technique highlights Selvi's mastery in low-relief sculpture, making the medal not just a portrait but a cultural artifact bridging Baroque grandeur and Enlightenment nostalgia. Visitors will appreciate its tactile intimacy—a window into Medici intrigue preserved in gleaming metal.
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...