Bronze Medal of Pope Alexander VII, Rome, 17th Century

Uniface medal of Pope Alexander VII (1655-67), by Gioacchini Francesco Travani (Italy, active 1655-74), Rome, 1661

Inscribed ‘ALEX. VII. PONT. MAX. A. VII.’, bust left wearing Papal tiara and cope decorated with a saint holding key and sword inside a cartouche; with date below truncation; reverse with incuse image.

Bronze, 105 mm. diam.

Pierced, a very fine contemporary cast

This large papal medal was struck to commemorate the seventh year of the reign of Pope Alexander VII, as evidenced by the second part of the inscription ‘PONT. MAX A. VII’. The fine quality is evident in the waxy modelling of the elaborate tiara and embroidered cope, in which a saint (probably Saint Peter) is depicted inside a shaped cartouche, holding a sword and key.

The medal was executed by Gioacchino Francesco Travani, a medallist and goldsmith who, in 1655, was one of the three Consuls of the Guild of Goldsmiths in Rome. Other related medals of Alexander struck by Travani in the early 1660s are held in the V&A Museum, London (see inv. nos A.31-1913, A.28-1977, 25-1869).

Born into the aristocratic Chigi family of Siena, Pope Alexander VII (Fabio Chigi, 1599-1667) was a scholarly and ascetic pontiff who is remembered for his powerful architectural vision. Alexander introduced the idea of ‘teatro’ or urban theatre whereby his urban projects became grand settings or showpieces appropriate to the splendour of the Catholic Church. His favourite architect and sculptor was Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who worked for him on the colonnade in St Peter’s square and the Scala Regia. Alexander died in 1667 and was memorialised in a spectacular tomb in St Peter’s, also by Bernini.

LITERATURE:
Bonnani II, p. 652, XVI; Tocci & Worsdale 296