Prince Henry Stuart, 1725-1807, Cardinal of York 1747 [reverse]

Ottone Hamerani

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture is a circular medallion with a raised relief profile portrait of a young person facing left. The subject has curly, textured hair tied back with a ribbon, and is adorned in what looks like elaborate clothing or armor with detailed embroidery across the chest. The material of the sculpture is a copper or bronze-like metal, giving it a rich, warm brown color with a subtle metallic sheen. Encircling the portrait is a border with the inscription "ALTER AB ILLO" carved into the surface. The medallion is flat and smooth around the edges, showing a precision typical of minted works. This gives the piece the appearance of both a commemorative medal and a classical portrait relief, reflecting a meticulous crafting process.