Medal Depicting Virginia de' Medici (1568–1615)

Art Historical Context

Step into the Renaissance legacy with this exquisite medal by Antonio Francesco Selvi, in 1739. Titled *Medal Depicting Virginia' Medici (15681615)*, it honors the noblewoman from Florence's illustrious Medici family, known for their patronage of arts and politics during the late Renaissance. Virginia, daughter of Grand Duke Cosimo I, embodied the era's blend of power and intrigue, marrying into the Orsini family and navigating the turbulent courts of Italy. Selvi's posthumous tribute, over a century after her death, reflects the enduring fascination with Medici figures in 18th-century Europe. Measuring just 8.3 cm in diameter, this intimate portrait in lead with wax showcases Selvi's mastery of medal-making, a Baroque art form prized for its sculptural precision and portability. Lead provided a malleable base for detailed engraving, while wax added a luminous, tactile finish—ideal for private collections or study pieces. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Department of Painting and Sculpture of Europe, it exemplifies how medals served as "pocket sculptures," commemorating history's luminaries with lifelike reliefs. This rare work invites us to ponder Virginia's story through Selvi's lens, bridging Renaissance grandeur with Rococo refinement. A testament to portrait medals' cultural role in preserving elite legacies.

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...