Pietro Bembo, 1470-1547, Cardinal 1538, Venetian Philologist, Poet and Belletrist [obverse]

Italian 16th Century

National Gallery of Art

The image shows a profile relief sculpture of a bearded man facing right. The subject wears a robe with a collar and button details near the shoulder. The sculpture appears to be made of bronze or copper, with a brown color and metallic sheen. The surface shows a smooth texture with areas of wear and patina. The relief is surrounded by embossed letters spelling "PETRVS•BEMBVS•CΛR" in a circular arrangement. The artwork is a medallion depicting a detailed portrait of the man, capturing his likeness with intricate sculpting of his hair, eyes, nose, and beard.