Francesco Visdomini of Ferrara, 1509-1573, Humanist and Hebraist [obverse]

Pastorino de' Pastorini, called Pastorino da Siena

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture is a round medallion featuring a relief portrait of a man depicted in profile, facing to the right. The subject is shown with a prominent beard and short hair, wearing a cloak or robe that drapes around his shoulders. Above and around the figure, there are engraved inscriptions, likely signifying the subject's name and origin, "FRANC VIS DOMINVS FERRARIENSIS" alongside a date "1564" at the bottom. The sculpture is made from a copper alloy. The medallion includes a beaded border along the edge, and there are two small holes in the object near the edge. The craftsmanship of the piece is detailed, emphasizing the rich texture of the man's hair and beard, as well as the folds of his clothing.