The medal (diameter: 11.1 cm; Cat. 2936) presents an elegant portrait of Faustina the Elder, wife of Emperor Antoninus Pius, on the obverse. The reverse features an allegorical representation of their harmonious union: Faustina, seated on a curule stool, grasps Antoninus Pius’ right hand with both of hers. Facing her, the emperor returns her gaze, reinforcing the image of conjugal devotion.
By the mid-15th century, the humanist revival of antiquity had inspired artists to produce works modeled on classical precedents, which became highly prized among collectors. Faustina the Elder emerged as a particularly celebrated figure, regarded as a paragon of virtue and marital fidelity.
It was in this cultural milieu that the large bronze medal was created by a sculptor initially known as the "Master of the Roman Emperors", for his series of medals devoted to figures from antiquity. However, in the 1970s, this artist was identified as the Florentine Antonio Averlino, better known as Filarete. A virtuoso in bronze casting, Filarete was in Rome in 1445, having just completed the monumental central bronze doors of St. Peter’s Basilica.
Scholars established Filarete’s authorship of this medal and related works by recognizing striking stylistic parallels between details of the Vatican doors and a corpus of medals featuring ancient personages. The refined rendering of Empress Faustina the Elder exemplifies Filarete’s meticulous approach to both classical revival and the technical mastery of Renaissance medallic art. His precise attention to antiquarian detail underscores his deep engagement with the sculptural and glyptic traditions of the past.
This medal belongs to a distinguished group of works, primarily consisting of early modern medals and seals, from the Biblioteca Casanatense in Rome. Since 1930, it has been on deposit at Palazzo Venezia.
For an in-depth analysis, read the full catalog entry by Giulia Zaccariotto, coordinated by Barbara Agosti.