Medal Depicting Semiramide d'Appiano (died 1523)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite medal, crafted by the Italian sculptor and medalist Antonio Francesco Sel in 1739, honors Semiramide d'iano (ca. 1475–1523), a prominent Renaissance noblewoman from the Appiano family of Piomb, Italy. As wife of Jacopo IV App and regent for her son, she wielded significant political influence during a turbulent era of Italian city-state rivalries. Selvi's work, created over two centuries after her death, reflects the enduring fascination with Renaissance heroines, blending historical reverence with 18th-century portraiture traditions. Made of lead with wax—a rare combination that allowed for detailed modeling and subtle tonal effects—the medal measures 8.3 cm in diameter. Selvi, renowned for his innovative wax portraits and medals influenced by Baroque naturalism, likely used wax to capture fine facial details before casting in lead, a durable yet affordable metal for such commemorative pieces. This technique highlights the medal's dual role as both sculpture and portable talisman, embodying the Renaissance revival popular in Enlightenment-era Europe. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe, this artifact offers a window into the cultural practice of medallic art, where intimate portraits preserved the legacies of powerful women amid shifting dynasties. A testament to Selvi's mastery, it invites visitors to ponder Semiramide's story through the lens of time.

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...