Taddeo di Guidacci Manfredi I, Count of Faenza and Lord of Imola 1449 [obverse]

Art Historical Context

This bronze medal, cast in 1461 by the Parmesan artist Gianfrancesco Enola, presents the obverse portrait ofdeo di Guidacci Manfredi I, who held titles as Count of Faenza and Lord of Imola from 144. Enzola specialized in small-scale bronze works during the Italian Renaissance, creating commemorative pieces that echoed the profile portraits on ancient Roman coins. rough-cast surface and modest 4.43-centimeter reflect the practical demands of medal production at the, when such objects served as durable, portable records of power. Medals like this one played an important role in 15th-century Italian courts, functioning both as personal mementos and subtle instruments of political prestige. Commissioned to honor Manfredi’s rule over rival city-states in the Romagna region, the work captures the sitter in profile, a format that lent an air of classical authority to contemporary rulers. Enzola’s technique, though unfinished in this cast, demonstrates the careful modeling needed to convey status through subtle details of dress and bearing. Today the piece forms part of the National Gallery of Art’s Samuel H. Kress Collection, offering visitors a tangible link to the Renaissance culture of reputation and remembrance. Its survival as a rough cast also reminds us that these objects were often produced in multiples for distribution among allies and courtiers.