Ercole I d'Este, 1431-1505, Duke of Ferrara, Modena, and Reggio 1471 [obverse]

Style of Niccolò Fiorentino

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture is a bas-relief on a circular medallion featuring a profile portrait of a man. The subject appears to be an older man with a defined nose and chin, wearing a flat cap and a garment with detailed folds around the neck. His hair is depicted as wavy and falls just above shoulder length. The material of the sculpture appears to be metal, likely bronze, judging by its dark brown color with lighter highlights in the raised areas. The inscription around the edge of the medallion reads "HERCVLES DUX" along the left side. The entire sculpture is detailed and the person portrayed seems prominent, as denoted by the medallion's stylized representation.