Leone Leoni

For the early 17th-century composer, see Leone Leoni (composer).
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, Museo del Prado
Left-facing profile portrait by and of the artist Leone Leoni, from 1541, struck in bronze, as a medal, in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. The bearded gentleman with wavy hair and pointed chin faces to his left, in reddish brown metal, 4.26 centimeters across. Surrounding the head, in a circle are the images of four groups of four chain links, and four groups of double oxen yokes.
Leone Leoni. Self-Portrait [reverse], bronze, 1541. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Samuel H. Kress Collection.

Leone Leoni (c. 1509 – 22 July 1590) was an Italian sculptor of international outlook who travelled in Italy, Germany, Austria, France, Spain and the Netherlands. Leoni is regarded as the finest of the Cinquecento medallists.[1] He made his reputation in commissions he received from the Habsburg monarchs Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and Philip II of Spain. His usual medium was bronze, although he also worked in marble and alabaster, carved gemstones and probably left some finished work in wax (in which many of his sculptures were modelled), as well as designing coins. He mainly produced portraits, and was repeatedly used by the Spanish, and also the Austrian, Habsburgs.

  1. ^ A typical passing reference to Leoni's pre-eminent reputation was made by James J. Rorimer in The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin 26.4 (April 1931), p. 88.