Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta, Lord of Rimini (1417–1468)

Art Historical Context

This exquisite bronze medal, crafted by the Veronese artist Matteo de Pasti in 1446, portrays Sigismondo Pandolfoatesta, the ambitious Lord of Rimini (1417–1468). Measuring just 79 mm in diameter it exemplifies the Renaissance revival of ancient Roman portrait medals—small, portable sculptures that blended artistry with propaganda. De' Pasti, a talent in sculpture and architecture who later collaborated on Rimini's iconic Tempio Malatestiano, Malatesta in profile, a classical pose evoking imperial dignity. Malatesta, a shrewd condottiero and patron of the arts, ruled Rimini during Italy's fractious city-state era, navigating alliances amid the Renaissance's cultural flowering. The medal's motifs, including profiles of men and elephants—likely referencing Malatesta's emblem of strength and exotic prowess—highlight his self-fashioned image as a modern Roman warrior-prince. Bronze, prized for its durability and luster, allowed intricate detailing through casting techniques, making these plaquettes coveted collector's items. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's European Sculpture and Decorative Arts collection (bequest of Anne D. Thomson, 1923), this piece offers a intimate glimpse into 15th-century Italian power dynamics and the dawn of personalized Renaissance portraiture. A testament to humanism's blend of history and individuality, it invites visitors to ponder the lord's complex legacy.

About the Artist

Matteo de' Pasti|Veronese · 1420–1467

Matteo de' Pasti (c. 1420–c. 1467) was an Italian medalist, illuminator, and architect active in the mid-fifteenth century, best known as the principal artist of the brilliant humanist court of Sigismondo Pandolfo Malatesta in Rimini. The precise details of his early training are not fully documented, but he was active as a miniature painter and illuminator before establishing himself as one of th...