Pietro Lando, c. 1462-1545, Doge of Venice 1539, with Venetian Senators, Kneeling Before Christ [obverse]

Art Historical Context

This bronze struck medal, crafted by Andrea Spinelli in1539, captures a pivotal moment in Venetian history on its obverse: Pietro Lando, the elected Doge of Venicer. 1539–1545), kneels reverently before Christ alongside his senators. Measuring just 4.1 cm in diameter, this intimate sculpture exemplifies the Renaissance fascination with portrait medals—small, collectible artworks inspired by ancient Roman coins, blending portraiture with symbolic piety. Pietro Lando's election as Doge amid Venice's enduring republican traditions marked a time of political stability and maritime prowess, even as the Republic navigated threats from the Ottoman Empire. The scene underscores the Doge's humility and divine sanction, a common motif reinforcing the moral authority of Venetian leaders. Struck in bronze for durability and sheen, Spinelli's precise engraving highlights Renaissance medal-making techniques, where high-relief details and axis alignment (here at 6:00) allowed for sharp impressions in multiple copies. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Samuel H. Kress Collection, this piece invites us to ponder Venice's golden age: a fusion of secular power, religious devotion, and artistic innovation in a format prized by collectors and humanists alike.

About the Artist

Andrea Spinelli · 1508–1572

1508–1572