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Alfonso Ruspagiari (artist) Italian, 1521 - 1576 Self-Portrait, late 16th century lead overall (diameter): 7.9 cm (3 1/8 in.) Samuel H. Kress Collection 1957.14.1042 |
Object 5 of 6
Portrait medals were inspired by the ancient world, in particular the Roman coins that many humanists avidly collected. In his medal Alfonso Ruspagiari refers to himself four times: with a self-portrait; with his name around the edge; with his initials under the bust; and with the Latin word idem, meaning “the same.” Ruspagiari’s medal is one-sided, but the reverse of most medals had a personal emblem or a scene with some meaning for the subject.
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