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

Baldassare d'Este

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture is a round medal-like object with a raised relief of a man in profile, facing left. He is dressed in historical or classical attire with a pointed cap. The material is a dark metallic substance, likely bronze, with an aged appearance and a patina, giving it a gold-brown color with darker tarnishing. The sculpture includes an inscription around the circumference, with text running from left to right across the top and bottom edges. The man depicted is stylized in a manner resembling ancient or classical portraits, and the sculpture gives a sense of antiquity due to the weathered surface and classical style.